DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Airwave Service

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Airwave handsets issued to his Department have been lost in each year since their introduction; and how many handsets issued to his Department have been disabled by the service provider through  (a) loss,  (b) breakage and  (c) other reasons in each such year.

Tom Watson: No Airwave handsets issued to the Cabinet Office have been recorded as disabled due to loss, breakage or any other reason.

Departmental Computers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that laptop computers on loan from his Department to civil servants in other Government Departments are accounted for; and who is responsible for their replacement if they are lost.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office operates appropriate controls to ensure the security, integrity and availability of data and IT equipment assets, and provides comprehensive IT security advice and guidance, including in exceptional circumstances where computers and laptops are loaned from my Department to civil servants in other Government Departments.
	Should an IT asset be misplaced or lost, the incident will be recorded in the departmental theft/losses register and where appropriate, a replacement will be obtained. The Cabinet Office may be responsible for purchasing replacement items; however, individual evaluations will be made in each case.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) letters and  (b) emails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Tom Watson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: Investigations into the loss or unauthorised disclosure of information have to consider everyone with access to the information in question.
	By its nature, the Cabinet Office holds information across the full range of Government activity.
	Information about civil servants in the Cabinet Office included in investigations concerning the loss or deliberate disclosure of data and confidential information is not held centrally. Fewer than five staff working in the Cabinet Office at the time of loss or unauthorised disclosure of data or confidential information have been suspended or dismissed following such investigations since 1998.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what percentage of contractors and suppliers to  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have reported that they are compliant with the Government's security standards following publication of the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government, and the accompanying document, Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action, on 25 June 2008;
	(2)  how many contracts  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; for which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each contract is held; and how many people have their data stored overseas in the case of each such contract.

Tom Watson: The data handling report published on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 25-26WS, and the cross Government minimum mandatory measures, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, define the responsibilities for safeguarding data. These stand alongside Data Protection legislation.
	All Departments and agencies, or contractors working on their behalf, must comply with Data Protection legislation and adhere to these new arrangements. The Cabinet Office wrote to all its contractors and suppliers in September to confirm their compliance with these new arrangements and was assured that they did.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the IT systems in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies is fully accredited to the Government's security standards.

Tom Watson: All ICT systems in the Cabinet Office are fully accredited to the Government's security standards.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information his Department holds on the  (a) sex,  (b) ethnicity,  (c) age,  (d) disability,  (e) sexual orientation and  (f) religion or belief of its staff; and what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against its targets relating to diversity in its workforce.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office collects information on all the areas specified. Assessment of progress against diversity targets can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 available from the House library, or Cabinet Office website
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/annualreport/dept2008.aspx

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what IT projects  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of (i) the cost and (ii) the completion date of each is.

Tom Watson: The following table lists the major IT projects my Department is currently undertaking along with associated cost and completion date estimates.
	
		
			  Project  (i) Estimated cost (£ million)  (ii) Estimated completion date 
			 Flex Transformation (ISAAC Phase 2) 3.16 March 2009 
			 HR/Finance/Procurement Shared Services (COSS) 7.7 May 2009 
			 National Resilience Extranet (NRE) 1.8 Autumn 2009 
		
	
	Responsibility for the Government Gateway was transferred to DWP with effect from 1 April 2008.

Departmental Languages

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants in the Prime Minister's Office received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure his Office incurred in providing such coaching; in what languages such coaching was provided; and whether the Prime Minister has received such coaching.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. Cabinet Office is committed to lifelong learning for all its employees and supports individuals throughout their learning and development.
	All Cabinet Office units have delegated responsibility for spend against their training budgets and information is not collected centrally.
	There has been no centrally organised coaching in a foreign language for Cabinet Office staff.

Departmental Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: The information requested is not yet available as the majority of the time period to which the expenditure relates falls within the current financial year (2008-09) for which the audited accounts have not yet been produced.
	The Department's expenditure on goods and services in 2008-09 will be audited following the end of the financial year. The accounts are expected to be laid before Parliament prior to the summer recess 2009.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Tom Watson: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access to services.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) on 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 248W.

Elderly

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate the Office of National Statistics has made of the number of people over  (a) 60 and  (b) 80 years old there will be in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England in each year to 2015.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about what the projected population aged over  (a) 60 years, and over  (b) 80 years is in (i) North Yorkshire; (ii) England in each year to 2015. (247598)
	The attached table shows the projected population aged 60 and over and 80 and over for 2009 to 2015 for North Yorkshire and England. These data are taken from the 2006-based Subnational Population Projections published on 12 June 2008, and are the most recent projections available.
	
		
			  2006-based subnational population projections for persons aged 60 and over, and 80 and over, England and North Yorkshire 2009-15 
			   Thousand 
			   2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015 
			  England
			 Persons aged 60 and over 11,521 11,705 11,872 12,037 12,205 12,380 12,552 
			 Persons aged 80 and over 2,387 2,435 2,487 2,536 2,584 2,632 2,692 
			  North Yorkshire
			 Persons aged 60 and over 164 167 171 174 177 180 184 
			 Persons aged 80 and over 34 34 35 36 37 38 39 
			  Note:  The projections relate to mid-year  Source:  Office for National Statistics

Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role  (a) the Cabinet Secretary and  (b) his Department has in investigations of unauthorised disclosures of information from Government departments.

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the role of the  (a) Cabinet Secretary and  (b) his Department is in the investigation of unauthorised disclosures of information from Government departments.

Tom Watson: The role of the Cabinet Office in leak investigations was provided to the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) by the Cabinet Secretary on 11 December 2008. A copy of the Memorandum was placed in the Libraries of the House.

Government Departments: Privacy

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Government projects to date have had Privacy Impact Assessments commissioned.

Tom Watson: Information on the specific Government projects where Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) are being conducted is not collected centrally. The Information Commissioner's office produces guidance on PIAs and is monitoring their uptake.
	PIAs are a self-assessment tool for organisations and are not a statutory obligation for Government Departments. However, the Data Handling Report published on 25 June 2008 recognised the value of PIAs and required that Departments apply them to new programmes or projects from July 2008 as part of their overall risk management approach to protecting personal data.

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many former prisoners are employed by his Department; and what his Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office does not hold central records on the number of its employees who have served prison sentences. Such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not require applicants who have spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 to provide details of those convictions when seeking employment. Applicants with current convictions are not precluded from taking up employment and each case is considered on the basis of individual circumstances.

Office of the Third Sector

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding his Department has allocated to support the Office of the Third Sector in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1084W.
	The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) budget is published annually as part of the Cabinet Office Main Estimates and updated in the Supplementary Estimates.
	The OTS is committed to invest at least £515 million in third sector programmes over the years 2008-2011.

Population

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were registered as resident in  (a) North Yorkshire and  (b) England in each year since 1993.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding how many people were registered as resident in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) England in each year since 1993. (247592)
	The table below shows the estimated mid-year resident population of North Yorkshire and England for the years 1994-2007. The latest population estimates available are for mid-2007.
	
		
			  Mid-year population estimates, 1994-2007 
			  Thousand 
			   England  North Yorkshire 
			 1994 48,229 548 
			 1995 48,383 552 
			 1996 48,519 554 
			 1997 48,665 555 
			 1998 48,821 558 
			 1999 49,033 562 
			 2000 49,233 566 
			 2001 49,450 570 
			 2002 49,652 574 
			 2003 49,866 578 
			 2004 50,111 583 
			 2005 50,466 587 
			 2006 50,763 592 
			 2007 51,092 596 
			  Source: Office for National Statistics

Private Detectives

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what use the Cabinet Office has made of  (a) private investigators and  (b) Risk Analysis UK Ltd. since May 2005.

Tom Watson: Cabinet Office maintains a panel of independent investigators who can be called on to undertake internal investigations. The panel is made up of retired civil and Crown servants with investigation experience and retired senior police officers. The investigators are employed in a personal capacity to carry out investigations. No private companies are contracted to do this work. The Cabinet Office has never employed Risk Analysis UK Ltd.

Sight Impaired

Tom Levitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines his Department follows in respect of making printed materials and forms accessible to people suffering red/green colour blindness.

Tom Watson: We endeavour to adhere to the various guidelines recommended to us, such as those published by the Informability unit of the Central Office of Information, the Images of Disability guidelines of the Office for Disability Issues, and the See It Right guidance by Royal National Institute for the Blind.
	However, the majority of Cabinet Office publications are distributed electronically through the Department's websites and we work to the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative guidance. We use specialist software for checking sites against colour vision and to simulate how images will look to users suffering from:
	Deuteranopia (red/green deficiency), Protanopia (another form of red/green deficiency) and Tritanopia (blue/yellow deficiency)

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Equality

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff in the Equalities and Human Rights Commission work on community cohesion issues; and what estimate she has made of the cost of employing such staff in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the following two financial years.

Maria Eagle: The structure and business objectives of the Equality and Human Rights Commission are such that work on community cohesion issues is not specifically allocated to one team or group of staff and is spread across the organisation. The Commission do not, therefore, have cost figures for staff working in this specific area.

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many former prisoners are employed by the Government's Equalities Office; and what the Office's policy is on the employment of former prisoners.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office was established in October 2007 and was formed of some 60 civil servants drawn from other Government Departments. The personnel records covering those staff are confidential to the original Department and are not accessible to GEO. The GEO began its own recruitment in December 2007. Since then, none of the 40 or so staff employed are former prisoners. The GEO adheres to the Civil Service Management Code and will employ former prisoners subject to satisfactory completion of character checks and security vetting.

TRANSPORT

A1079: Noise

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent assessment of the level of noise on the A1079 is; what assessment he has made of trends in noise levels over the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: No assessment of noise levels on the A1079 have been carried out in the last 10 years. There has been no requirement to undertake such assessment work. Up until 2002-03, the road was the responsibility of the Highways Agency but passed to the East Riding of Yorkshire council upon de-trunking.

Bus Services: Concessions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) his officials have had with representatives of local authorities facing funding shortfalls for the national concessionary bus fares scheme; what such meetings are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: To date, I have met Members of Parliament whose constituencies cover the following authorities to discuss funding of concessionary travel:
	Scarborough Borough Council
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Exeter City Council
	Worcester City Council
	In the coming weeks I am also due to meet with Members whose constituencies cover the following authorities :
	Harrogate Borough Council
	Fareham Borough Council
	The Isle of Wight Council
	Chesterfield Council
	In addition to these authorities, departmental officials have either met or will shortly be meeting with representatives from the following local authorities:
	Oxford City Council
	Lancashire County Council
	Bournemouth Borough Council
	The Government remain confident that there is sufficient funding in total to meet the cost of the statutory minimum bus concession. The £212 million of extra funding that was provided to meet the additional cost of the extended concession is based on generous assumptions about fares, bus pass take up rate, extra journeys and additional operating costs. We will however continue to monitor the impact of the new concession.

Bus Services: Concessions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which local authorities have not received sufficient funding to meet their expenditure on the national concessionary bus fares scheme in 2008-09; and how much the shortfall is in each such case;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the difference between funding and expenditure on the national concessionary bus fares scheme in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area in 2008-09.

Paul Clark: We are confident that there is sufficient funding in total for the statutory minimum bus concession in England. The bulk of funding for concessionary travel is still given to authorities through the formula grant process (Revenue Support Grant) but it is not separately identified within that block grant. It is therefore not possible to identify how much individual authorities receive specifically for concessionary travel.
	An additional £212 million is being provided by special grant this year solely to pay for the extension of the statutory concession to cover England-wide travel. Again, we are confident that this is sufficient in total and we consulted widely on the formula used to distribute it. Data on changes in authority expenditure caused by the new concession will not be available until autumn 2009.
	We will shortly be consulting on possible changes to how concessionary travel is administered and any changes may provide an opportunity to consider how best to distribute the totality of funding.

Bus Services: Concessions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Local Government Association about the adequacy of funding for the national concessionary bus fares scheme.

Paul Clark: Officials in the Department for Transport have had regular meetings with the Local Government Association (LGA) regarding concessionary travel. The LGA and representatives from other tiers of local government are present at regular meetings of the Department's Concessionary Fares Working Groups.
	I also met with David Sparks of the LGA on 13 January 2009 to discuss this issue.

Bus Services: EU Action

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the EU Commission's proposal for bus passenger rights on bus passengers; and what response the Government has made to the damage liability for operators contained in the proposal.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is currently preparing an initial impact assessment on the European Commission's proposal for a new regulation on bus and coach passenger rights, which will include an assessment of the costs and benefits to both passengers and operators. The Department will shortly be consulting on the proposal to help inform the Government's position and it is intended that the initial impact assessment will form part of that consultation. An explanatory memorandum (EM 16933/08) on the proposal was submitted to Parliament on 13 January 2009, copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were made to his Department since 2005; how many such requests were  (a) agreed to and  (b) refused in each of those years; how many refusals were subject to appeal to the Information Commissioner in each of those years; how many appeals were successful; if he will place in the Library copies of the material subsequently provided in each case; how much was spent by his Department opposing each appeal; which (i) consultants and (ii) law firms were employed by his Department in connection with each appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of State for Justice. my right hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 507W.

Public Transport: Greater Manchester

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake an assessment of means of improving public transport serving Manchester and surrounding areas in light of the recent decision on the proposed congestion zone.

Paul Clark: Following the decision not to proceed with their proposals for the Transport Innovation Fund, it is for the Greater Manchester authorities to develop a sustainable transport strategy that is affordable within the available funding streams. We will be working closely with them as they take this forward.

Traffic Lights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has  (a) produced and  (b) plans to produce for local authorities on the speed at which traffic lights change from amber to red; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport issues guidance to highway authorities on the general principles of traffic control by light signals. Guidance is contained in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 1/06 (TAL 1/06). A copy of the TAL 1/06 is available in the Library.

OLYMPICS

Dalai Lama

Tim Loughton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will invite the Dalai Lama to attend the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: Guests and dignitaries are invited to attend the Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee and participating National Olympic Committees, and the Paralympic Games by the International Paralympic Committee and participating National Paralympic Committees.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by her Office had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Tessa Jowell: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. When responding to all correspondence Departments should abide by the guidance as set out in 'Handling correspondence from MPs, Lords, MEPs and Members of Devolved Assemblies' which was published by the Cabinet office in July 2005.
	In respect of all other correspondence, we are unable to provide the information within the disproportionate cost limit (£750).

Departmental Internet

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Olympics with reference to the answer of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 336-37W, on Government departments: information and communications technology, which IP addresses are used by  (a) her Office and  (b) computers in (i) her private office, (ii) the offices of its communications officials and (iii) the offices of her special advisers.

Tessa Jowell: To help defend against electronic attack, it is standard good information security practise for corporate IT systems, not to publish internal IP addresses. When accessing internet websites, the IP addresses of all of the computers on the Cabinet Office's internal office IT system are hidden behind the following IP addresses which are publicly available—195.92.40.49 and 62.25.106.209. These IP addresses are shared with other Government Departments that use the Government secure intranet.

Olympic Games 2012

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans she has to allow commercial organisations to seek the endorsement of the London 2012 Organising Committee for mass participation schemes.

Tessa Jowell: holdin g answer 15 December 200 8
	London 2012 official sponsors have the right to activate their sponsorship, including for mass participation initiatives. There are no plans to allow other commercial organisations to associate directly with the games, which would undermine the exclusive association for which the official sponsors have paid. In exceptional circumstances, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic games and Paralympic games and the International Olympic Committee may approve a project which has non-Olympic commercial support, provided they have absolute confidence the company will not gain any association with the 2012 games.
	Non-commercial participation schemes inspired by the London Olympic games and Paralympic games, and offering opportunities in sport, culture, volunteering, education, the environment and the promotion of business opportunities, can apply to be part of the Inspire programme, London 2012's broad participation and legacy programme.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether  (a) her Office and  (b) the Olympic Delivery Authority have had discussions with modular building contractors on the construction of the athletes' village for the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 December 2008
	 The Olympic Delivery Authority through their development manager and preferred developer, Lend Lease, have reviewed with modular building contractors and volumetric building contractors the use of their products in the development of the Olympic village. The selected procurement and delivery route involves the use of factory prepared modular building components to be assembled on site within a site prepared structural frame.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment has been made of the viability of using modular construction methods for the athletes' village for the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 December 200 8
	 : The viability of using modular construction methods has been assessed in some detail. Many elements of the project have been considered for modular construction techniques, and many are being implemented. Elements considered include:
	Facade Cladding Panels
	Stairs and landings
	Bathroom Pods
	Services/Utility cupboard
	Internal Walls
	Fit out pre-packaged ceilings, floors, doors and joinery.
	Electrics
	Prefabricated Multi service Vertical Risers
	Prefabricated Multi service Horizontal distribution runs
	Service Distribution Modules
	Roof Plant Modules
	All of these elements are being developed in modular form to varying degrees for incorporation into the final product.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent estimate she has made of the cost of construction of the athletes' village for the London 2012 Olympics; if she will estimate the cost of construction of the village using modular construction methods; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 December 2008
	 The costs of developing the Olympic village are currently being reviewed taking into account elements of modular construction as appropriate. As the costs are the subject of sensitive commercial negotiations it would not be appropriate to disclose costings at this time.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of progress in construction of the Olympic Park and other Olympic venues; and what RAG system key has been assigned to the targets for performance on  (a) budget and  (b) timescale.

Tessa Jowell: The substantial progress that has been made both in the delivery of the venues and infrastructure and in the raising of funds to support the staging of the games means that, while recognising the risks, we remain in a strong position to manage delivery on time and on budget.
	Progress across the whole Olympics programme is reported on a monthly basis to the Olympic board, including red, red/amber, amber green and green ratings against each element of the programme, including venues in terms of budget and time.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what dates since January 2008 the Olympic Delivery Authority contacted the Treasury Funders Group on access to the Olympic contingency fund.

Tessa Jowell: The funders group met in July 2008 to consider the impact that the economic downturn was likely to have on the Olympic village project and met again in October 2008 to review the situation further.
	In December the funders group were requested via correspondence to approve the release of contingency to fund additional seating requirements in the handball arena and additional building works in the Olympic Stadium.
	The next London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games annual report will be produced in the near future and will include fully updated financial information, including the outcomes of agreed contingency requests. Thereafter, we will publish a quarterly financial update which will include any changes to published budgets.

Olympic Games 2012: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what support is being provided to designated training facilities in the North East for athletes for London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The north-east region has 20 designated training facilities in the pre-games training camp guide from across the region offering 23 Olympic and Paralympic sports/disciplines.
	The north-east regional coordinator for the 2012 games has brought all facilities' representatives together to develop shared plans and a marketing brochure to promote the north-east's sporting offer to National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees competing in London 2012. The Coordinator is also working with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic games and Paralympic games on the wider nations and regions effort to market all UK facilities.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Occupational Health

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on counselling services for new recruits to the army over the last 10 years.

Kevan Jones: We estimate that the Army spent the following on counselling services for new recruits (Phase 1 trainees) for the last five years. Information is not available for previous years.
	
		
			  Period/FY   million 
			 2007-08 7.357 
			 2006-07 6.370 
			 2005-06 5.020 
			 2004-05 3.536 
			 2003-04 3.621

Army: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals over the age of 50 years are serving in the Army, broken down by  (a) regiment and  (b) rank.

Bob Ainsworth: The following tables show the numbers of Army personnel, aged 50 and over by  (a) arm/service and  (b) paid rank. Figures are shown by arm/service since this information is not collated at regiment level.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of trained army personnel aged 50 and over by paid rank as at 1 April 2008 
			  Paid rank  Number 
			 Lieutenant General and above (1)20 
			 Major General (1)40 
			 Brigadier (1)80 
			 Colonel (1)270 
			 Lieutenant Colonel (1)460 
			 Major (1)470 
			 Captain (1)10 
			 Warrant Officer Class I (1)40 
			 Warrant Officer Class II (1)60 
			 Staff Sergeant (1)20 
			 Sergeant (1)10 
			 Corporal (1)10 
			 Lance Corporal (1)10 
			 Private (1,)(2) 
			 Total (1)1,500 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of trained army personnel aged 50 and over by arm/service as at 1 April 2008 
			  Arm/service  Number 
			 Staff (1)400 
			 Household Cavalry (1,2) 
			 Royal Armoured Corps (1)40 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery (1)80 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers (1)100 
			 Royal Corps of Signals (1)90 
			 Infantry (1)190 
			 Army Air Corps (1)60 
			 Royal Army Chaplain's Department (1)30 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps (1)150 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps (1)40 
			 Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (1)60 
			 Adjutant General Corps (1)80 
			 Small Arms School Corps (1,2) 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps Dental Officer (1,2) 
			 Intelligence Corps (1)20 
			 Army Physical Training Corps (1)10 
			 Corps of Army Music (1)20 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (1)20 
			 Long Service List (1)110 
			 Total (1)1,500 
			 (1) Provisional (2) Zero or rounded to zero  Notes: 1. The figures are for trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, TA and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP. 2. Due to the implementation of the new Joint Personnel Administration System all Army data from 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. 3. All Officers of Paid Rank Colonel and above are included in staff regardless of late arm/service. 4. Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.

Defence Equipment: Deployment

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the deployment of the remaining 174 Mastiffs to Iraq and Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: The delivery of the 174 remaining Mastiffs is expected to take place between spring and autumn 2009. Not all of these vehicles will be deployed on operations since some will be retained in a training pool.

Departmental Buildings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving departmental buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on departmental decorations.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a large estate in the UK and overseas comprising many kinds of buildings. While the majority of the maintenance responsibility is now carried out by Defence Estates, this has not always been the case. Much of the maintenance is still carried out by others, including private finance initiative arrangements where maintenance elements are not readily identifiable.
	There are no plans to carry out major programmes of decoration unless essential except where these are already part of contractors' obligations.

Ex-servicemen: Homelessness

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former service personnel have become homeless in  (a) Leeds and  (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not collect this information. Independent research was commissioned from the University of York by MOD and its colleagues in the Ex-Service Action Group on Homelessness (ESAG). The research found that the percentage of veterans among London's homeless population was 6 per cent. in 2007 compared with 22 per cent. in separate research in 1997. We are exploring opportunities for further research to find out the extent of veterans homelessness in the rest of the country.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral evidence to the Defence Select Committee on Tuesday 16 December 2008, what the out of service dates assumed in his Department's memorandum to the Committee for the  (a) Agusta 109,  (b) Apache AH Mk1,  (c) Gazelle AH1,  (d) Lynx Mk 7/9,  (e) Lynx Mk 3/8,  (f) Merlin Mk1,  (g) Sea King Mk 4/6c,  (h) Sea King Mk 5,  (i) Sea King ASaC 7,  (j) Chinook Mk2/2a,  (k) Merlin Mk3.3a,  (l) Puma HC1 and  (m) Sea King Mk3/3a were, set out in tabulated format; what his most recent estimate of out-of-service dates is for each model; for what reasons the out-of-service dates have changed in each case; and on what date the decisions to change date were taken.

Quentin Davies: The most recent assumed out-of-service dates for each helicopter are shown in the following table. These dates have not changed since this information was given in the MOD memorandum provided to the House of Commons Defence Committee in November 2008. Where a life extension programme is planned to extend the out of service date of a helicopter but has not yet been approved at Main Gate, the resulting extended OSD is set out in brackets.
	Any Main Gate decision to invest in the modernisation or enhancement of existing aircraft will need to be taken in a through life context, recognising the relative priorities within the whole Defence Programme.
	The proposed adjustments in our planning assumption for out-of-service dates have resulted from work conducted during the Future Rotorcraft Capability programme and the 2008 planning round.
	
		
			  Aircraft type/mark  Current planned OSDs  Comments 
			 Agusta 109 2009 It is expected these aircraft will be replaced during 2009 by four EC 365N3s 
			 Apache 2030 We expect to have to invest further in this aircraft (eg to address obsolescence and meet emerging requirements) during the next decade, in order to sustain its service life up to 2030 
			 Chinook Mk2 2015 (2040) We expect to have to invest further in these aircraft (eg to address obsolescence, meet emerging requirements and extend the planned date of their retirement to 2040) during the next decade, although no investment decisions have yet been made 
			 Chinook Mk2a 2025 (2040) As above 
			 Gazelle 2012 Where there is an enduring requirement for the capability currently provided by Gazelle we are exploring arrangements based on leased aircraft 
			 Lynx Mk3 2013 It is expected that these aircraft will be replaced by the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) variant of Future Lynx from 2015 
			 Lynx Mk8 2015 As above 
			 Lynx Mk7 2013 It is expected that these aircraft will be replaced by the Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH) variant of Future Lynx from 2014 
			 Lynx Mk9 2013 As above 
			 Merlin Mk1 2029 We are currently preparing to upgrade these aircraft through the Merlin Mk1 Capability Sustainment Programme 
			 Merlin Mk3 2030 We expect to have to invest further in this aircraft (eg to address obsolescence and meet emerging requirements) during the next decade, in order to sustain its service life up to 2030 
			 Merlin Mk3a 2030 As above 
			 Puma 2012 (2022) We expect to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend the planned date of its retirement to 2022, when it is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by the Future Medium Helicopter programme 
			 Sea King Mk3/3a 2017 It is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by a joint PFI service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 
			 Sea King Mk4 2012 (2018) We expect to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend the planned date of their retirement to 2018, where upon it is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by the Future Medium Helicopter programme 
			 Sea King Mk6c 2010  
			 Sea King Mk5 2017 It is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by a joint PFI service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 
			 Sea King Mk7 2018 (2022) We expect to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend the planned date of their retirement to 2022

Military Bases: Waste Management

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military facilities are being made available for the storage of  (a) domestic waste and  (b) paper for recycling.

Kevan Jones: holding answer 14 January 2009
	In accordance with HM Treasury's Wider Markets Initiative, some defence land and property which is not required in the short to medium term is leased to third parties for commercial use, which might include the storage of waste. Details of such instances are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Engineers

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the cost of relocating the Royal School of Military Survey;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the cost of moving the 42nd Engineer Regiment, including the cost of the movement of the Regiment's headquarters;
	(3)  for what reasons the  (a) 42nd Engineer Regiment and  (b) Royal School of Military Survey are to be relocated;
	(4)  on what date he expects decisions on the movement of  (a) 42nd Engineer Regiment,  (b) its headquarters and  (c) the Royal School of Military Survey to be announced.

Kevan Jones: The cost of moving 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) and its headquarters from Hermitage, together with 14 Sqn of the Regiment, located at Ayrshire Barracks, Moenchengladbach, Germany, is estimated to be 18.9 million (net present value over 25 years). A decision on the date for the start of the project is expected by March 2009.
	The intention is for the Royal School of Military Survey to collocate with other intelligence training organisations at Chicksands, Bedfordshire. As the project is still in its initial stage, with the investment appraisal still to be completed, no confirmed date or cost is available. Any announcement on a date for relocation is unlikely before October 2010.
	The relocations will not only improve operational effectiveness by collocating intelligence capabilities at RAF Wyton and intelligence training at Chicksands, but will enable significant long term savings in estate management and support costs.
	The MOD will work to minimise the impact on civilian staff at Hermitage by providing any assistance it can to those who may be affected, relocating personnel and avoiding compulsory redundancies wherever possible.

Weapons: Theft

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases there were of British servicemen and women being disciplined for stealing armed forces' weapons  (a) abroad and  (b) within the UK in the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 January 2009
	Thefts of weapons are investigated by the service police, Ministry of Defence police or the Home Department police, either jointly or independently. We do not hold comprehensive information about all cases referred to the civil courts and so the information provided is based only on cases tried by courts-martial during 2008.
	No service personnel have been court-martialled specifically for stealing armed forces weapons abroad or in the UK. However, 10 service personnel have been court-martialled for offences involving the theft of ammunition; being in possession of various items ranging from weapon parts to blank rounds of ammunition, plastic explosives and detonators; or the sale of weapon parts. Of these 10 cases, one was acquitted. In all other cases, sentences ranging from a 750 fine for possession of ammunition, to 15 years imprisonment and reduced to the ranks and dismissed with disgrace for selling SA80 rifle parts, were awarded.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Seasonal Labour

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from farmers on the availability of seasonal labour; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We have listened to the concerns expressed by the industry about shortages of seasonal labour and at the end of last year announced an increase in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme quota of 5,000 for 2009 bringing it up to 21,250.

Fishing Quotas

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals he has to make changes to the fishing quota system; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: At present, I have no proposals to change the current quota management system.
	The UK is actively engaged with the European Commission's current activities to reform the Common Fisheries Policy, which will include consideration of the quota and fisheries access management systems. I have publicly signalled my intention that the UK should play a leading role in shaping this reform and the future of the CFP.

Seal Products

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage EU action to ban seal products from entering EU countries.

Hilary Benn: A Commission proposal for a ban on the import of seal products into the EU was discussed for the first time by the Council of Ministers on 20 October. The UK supports a ban and we will work closely with the Council and other member states to introduce it as quickly as possible.

Horse Passports

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses in England have been issued with passports.

Jane Kennedy: The National Equine Database records that approximately 682,000 (681,934) passports have been issued to horse owners in England.

Public Food Procurement

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on public food procurement.

Jane Kennedy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly raises the subject of public food procurement with his ministerial colleagues.

New Forest National Park Authority

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the New Forest National Park Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The New Forest National Park Authority has made good progress since its creation in 2005 and I believe it is now making a real contribution to the benefit of the area. The findings of the 2008 National Park Authority Performance Assessment, when available, will allow us to check that the authority is on track.

Farming: Competitiveness

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the competitiveness of the farming industry.

Jane Kennedy: Over the last 12 months, the rural development agencies have begun delivering a 300 million programme of investment in improving the competitiveness of farming and forestry under the Rural Development Programme for England. The Rural Payments Agency's continued progress in making payments under the single payment scheme has helped farmers' cash flow. Reducing trade distorting subsidies helps farmers better respond to the demands of the market; the recent common agricultural policy health check took another step by reducing coupled payments and regulatory burdens on farmers.

Single Farm Payment

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the process for making single farm payments in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Continued improvements in its systems and processes have enabled the Rural Payments Agency to make good progress towards its 2008 single payment scheme targets. Latest figures show that just under 1.1 billion (67.4 per cent.) has been paid to 84,039 claimants (78.9 per cent.)

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: West Sussex

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the amount of land designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty in West Sussex which will be excluded from the proposed South Downs National Park boundaries.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The final Inspector's Report, in respect of the re-opened inquiry, was received on 28 November. We are carefully considering it in detail, as you would expect.
	At this stage it would not be appropriate to anticipate any decision on the creation of a park, or the extent of any park that may result.

Water Charges

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations his Department has received on water drainage charges for places of worship; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Secretary of State has received a range of representations from various groups regarding surface water drainage charges. The Government are, however, very aware of the problem of affordability faced by some customers as a result of the switch to site area charging for surface water drainage and are looking at what can be done.

Asbestos: Soil Guidance Values

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the publication of soil guidance values on asbestos.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA officials have been in regular communication with the Environment Agency about the ongoing development of contaminated land guidance. The Environment Agency has been working closely with the Health and Safety Laboratory and the Health and Safety Executive to develop guidance on the investigation and analysis of asbestos in soil which it plans to consult on in the first half of 2009. It is likely that this guidance will supersede the proposed Soil Guideline Value.

Inshore Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the development of the inshore fisheries sector.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My aim is to achieve the vision, set out in Fisheries 2027, of a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable inshore fishing fleet. The measures announced in December to help stabilise the fleet were a critical first step to delivering this. The Sustainable Access to Inshore Fisheries project will build on this foundation, beginning by developing a robust evidence base on the benefits of inshore fishing to help inform long term decisions.

Agriculture: Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department takes to encourage consumers to purchase meat and dairy products produced  (a) locally and  (b) in accordance with (i) animal welfare and (ii) environmental regulations.

Jane Kennedy: While the Government believe that buying locally produced food is a matter of personal choice for consumers, we recognise that it can bring benefits to producers and consumers alike. We have helped to facilitate this choice by providing funding for a range of measures to help regional and local food producers, such as meet the buyer events, the encouragement of food hubs and shared distribution facilities, and training. Support is also available under Rural Development Programme for England for activities linked to the promotion of quality regional and local food, the use of native English breeds of cattle in environmental stewardship schemes and for activities linked to promoting the environmental sustainability of the livestock sector.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of Single Payment Scheme payments for 2008 have been made in England.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 January 2009
	As at 31 December 2008, single payment scheme (SPS) 2008 payments of over 967.6 million have been made to 69,187 claimants. This equates to 59.3 per cent. of an estimated fund value of 1.63 billion, paid to 64.99 per cent. of the estimated number of claimants of 106,500.

Brussels

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on visits by its staff to Brussels in 2007-08; and how many such visits were made by  (a) air and  (b) rail.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally by the core-Department, the following expenditure was incurred on visits to Brussels in the financial year April 2007 to March 2008:
	
		
			   
			   Air spend  Rail spend 
			 Q1: April to June 2007 6,127.67 83,055.00 
			 Q2: July to September 2007 3,312.93 49,527.00 
			 Q3: October to December 2007 5,678.04 73,429.00 
			 Q4: January to March 2008 2,542.03 83,067.00 
		
	
	From information held centrally by the core-Department, the number of visits to Brussels in the financial April 2007 to March 2008 was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of  air tickets  Number of  rail tickets 
			 Q1: April to June 2007 34 465 
			 Q2: July to September 2007 21 285 
			 Q3:October to December 2007 34 427 
			 Q4: January to March 2008 16 481 
		
	
	All travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Management Code and departmental travel policy, which specifies the use of rail travel from London to Brussels, and London to Paris. Staff travelling outside of London are encouraged to explore rail over air travel where possible.

Climate Change

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) name and  (b) address of each regional climate change partnership is; and whether such bodies are classified as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Contact names and e-mail addresses for the Regional Climate Change Partnerships are listed on the Government's Adaptation website:
	www.defra.gov.uk/adaptation
	as part of the 'Taking Action' section.
	The Regional Climate Change Partnership is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act), as it is not included in Schedule 1 of the FOI Act. It also does not appear to meet the necessary criteria, as laid out in the legislation, for a public body to be added to the FOI Act via a Section 4 Order.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; for which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas in the case of each such contract.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has no contracts which allow the contractor to store personal data of UK citizens overseas. The DEFRA Agencies have one contract which relates to the control of animal disease outbreaks and allows for personal data to be stored in the Republic of Ireland. At present, information on less than 10 individuals is so held under this contract.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department appointed a senior information risk owner in accordance with the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government and the accompanying document Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action; and what grade the person holds within the Department.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA's Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) was appointed on 28 February 2008 and is a Director General who sits on the Management Board.

Departmental Legal Proceedings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many legal proceedings naming his Department as a defending party were  (a) filed,  (b) concluded and  (c) dismissed in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2008 to date.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of legal proceedings naming the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a defending party  (a) filed,  (b) concluded and  (c) dismissed in 2008 are 58, 25 and 10, respectively.
	For each of the five years before 2008, the resources needed to obtain the information would be disproportionate and over the 750 threshold.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many special advisers were employed in his Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what his Department's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department maintains of its expenditure on  (a) official hospitality and  (b) alcohol for official hospitality.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The core-Department's financial system has an expenditure category for hospitality. The system has no expenditure category for alcohol for official hospitality. The core-Department's catering services provider does not hold a licence to serve alcohol. As a general rule, expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes is not allowed. Were alcohol to be purchased for hospitality purposes it should be acquired through formal purchase order, or through the Government Procurement Card, both of which methods are subject to formal authorisation procedures. All expenditure, including that on hospitality, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by  (a) his Department and  (b) the agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The core-Department's terms of payment for all valid, correctly rendered invoices submitted to the correct address(es) are 'within 30 days' or as otherwise contractually agreed, irrespective of organisational size.
	On 8 October, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement to the House that, in the current climate, the Government will aim to make SME payments within 10 days.
	DEFRA, along with other central Government Departments, is aiming to pay all suppliers as soon as possible with the aim of bringing forward all approved payments to within 10 days. DEFRA is compiling 10 day payment performance figures for the month of November 2008 for BERR who will publish the data for November and December in due course. Commencing April 2009, 10 day payment performance will be reported quarterly.
	For the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 the core-department's financial system records 10 day payment performance as 23.6 per cent. and 30. per cent. respectively (in comparison to 89.8 per cent. and 92 per cent. for 30 day payment performance).

Departmental Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Environment Agency on waste management (i) for recycling and (ii) for landfill in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the overall budget this represents in each case.

Jane Kennedy: For the year 2007-08 we estimate that the internal cost of waste management for DEFRA, which includes its offices, depots, laboratories, sites etc, was in the region of 126,280 for that sent to recycling and 160,720 for that sent to landfill.
	This equates to 44 per cent. of total expenditure for recycling and 56 per cent. of total expenditure for landfill.
	For the year 2007-08 the Environment Agency estimates that the cost of waste management from its offices and depots was 43,580 for that sent for recycling and 60,130 for that sent to landfill.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 97W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will publish the project specification of each of the three EU Interreg programmes listed.

Jane Kennedy: I am arranging for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House. The Franco-British Interreg 3A programmes are the responsibility of the Government office for the south east, while the managing authority responsible for the Interreg 4A programme is the Haute Normandie Regional Council.

Floods: Housing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2008,  Official Report, column 122W, on floods: housing, how many of the properties estimated to be at risk of flooding in each year are in each region.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Please find in the following table the estimated number of properties at the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea by Environment Agency Region.
	
		
			  Environment Agency Region  2004  2005  2006 
			 Anglian Region 307,400 314,200 317,600 
			 Midlands Region 214,300 222,300 222,400 
			 North East Region 289,200 301,600 298,100 
			 North West Region 204,600 210,000 210,900 
			 South West Region 160,600 168,700 169,100 
			 Southern Region 169,200 174,900 175,300 
			 Thames Region 711,800 734,925 736,200 
			 Environment Agency Wales 171,500 177,163 176,700 
			 Total 2,228,600 2,303,788 2,306,300 
		
	
	The Environment Agency and DEFRA did not record properties by region before 2004.
	The difference in the estimated number of properties at risk of flooding each year is mainly due to the improvements and refinements of the data and the modelling techniques used by the Environment Agency for the National Flood Risk Assessment.

Floods: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to investigate and help prevent instances of localised flooding, with particular reference to Newcastle upon Tyne.

Huw Irranca-Davies: On 17 December, in response to Sir Michael Pitt's Review of the floods in summer 2007, the Government announced how flooding issues will be tackled in the future.
	Local action is already taking place in many areas of the country. The Environment Agency, Newcastle City Council and Northumbrian Water Limited have formed a 'strategic co-ordination group' to investigate flooding across the Ouseburn Catchment and establish what measures may reduce the impact of future flooding across Newcastle City. The group is investigating possible improvements to the surface and foul water drainage systems, and potential alterations to bridges and channel capacity in the Gosforth area to alleviate the risk of flooding.
	The Environment Agency have completed 54 new flood defences since June 2007 which has increased protection to around 38,000 properties.

Fuel Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibility for policy on fuel poverty is retained by his Department following the establishment of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Jane Kennedy: Responsibility for tackling fuel poverty now rests with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and, in line with general Government policy, the rural aspects of fuel poverty will be considered within the mainstream policy. Nevertheless, DEFRA continues to take a strong interest in this issue, as it does in all others affecting rural communities. In particular, we sponsor the Commission for Rural Communities which works closely with DECC and Ofgem on rural fuel poverty issues and which has set up a Fuel Poverty advisory group.

Geomatics Group

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 98W, on the Environment Agency, 
	(1)  what the expected  (a) turnover and  (b) profit of the Geomatics Group in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11 is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the  (a) turnover and  (b) profit of the Geomatics Group was in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The current anticipated total turnover of the Geomatics Group is:
	
		
			
			 2008-09 4,789,000 
			 2009-10 4,330,000 
			 2010-2011 4,113,000 
		
	
	This includes work undertaken for the rest of the Environment Agency, which Geomatics makes no profit from. The level of profit on work undertaken for external customers is commercially confidential.
	The total turnover of the Geomatics Group in 2007-08 was 3,565,000.

Geomatics Group

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 98W, on the Environment Agency, what proportion of the profit made by the Geomatics Group was transferred to the Environment Agency in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Geomatics Group is a business unit within the Environment Agency and therefore 100 per cent. was transferred to the Environment Agency.

Geomatics Group

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 98W, on the Environment Agency, with whom the Geomatics Group held contracts from which it derived income in 2007-08, broken down by contract value; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: This information is commercially confidential, as releasing it could give a commercial advantage to other organisations.

Litter: Beaches

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of changes in the levels of beach litter since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has made no direct assessment of changes in the levels of litter on beaches. However, DEFRA does provide grant funding support through ENCAMS (also known as Keep Britain Tidy) to the Blue Flag and Quality Coast Award schemes designed to drive up the quality of amenity beach areas. Furthermore, DEFRA also funds ENCAMS to undertake the Local Environmental Quality Survey of England which has monitored levels of local environmental quality across England since 2001.
	Under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils have a duty to keep their relevant land, including beaches above the high water mark, clear of litter and refuse. The statutory Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse recommends those responsible for beaches regularly monitor them and develop an appropriate cleansing regime.

Recycling

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on the development of  (a) water and  (b) waste recycling facilities in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA spent the following amounts on water saving initiatives and waste and recycling facilities in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Water saving initiatives 4,294 158,339 416,498 
			 Waste and recycling facilities 0 19,795 92,859 
		
	
	DEFRA includes water saving technologies in all its major refurbishment and new building projects, to ensure that every possible water saving efficiency is addressed at the earliest stage. Technologies that are widely used throughout the estate include: rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing; low flush toilets; waterless urinals; efficient showers and passive infra-red sensor taps.
	Significant investment has also been made on DEFRA's laboratory estate to replace older inefficient autoclaves with more water efficient versions. (An autoclave is a device used to sterilise laboratory equipment. The process uses significant quantities of water to produce steam). DEFRA also has an ongoing programme of leak detection surveys throughout its estate.
	DEFRA recently invested in new recycling bins and waste storage areas as part of its 'Bin the Bin' binless office programme initially across the London estate, to decrease waste arisings and increase recycling. This has been an award winning initiative which, wherever possible within the constraints of each site, is being replicated across the estate.

Regional Technical Advisory Boards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) name and  (b) address of each regional technical advisory board is; and whether these bodies are classified as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	The names and address of each Regional Technical Advisory Board (RTAB) are as follows:
	The Secretary, East of England RTAB, East of England Regional Assembly, Flempton House, Flempton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EG
	The Secretary, East Midlands RTAB, East Midlands Regional Assembly , First Floor, Council Offices, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, East Midlands, LEI3 0UL
	The Secretary, London RTAB, London Assembly, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA
	The Secretary, North East RTAB, North East Assembly, The Axis Building, Maingate, Kingsway North, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0NQ
	The Secretary, North West RTAB, North West Regional Assembly, 4NW, Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan, WN3 5BA
	The Secretary, South East RTAB, South East England Regional Assembly, 1(st) Floor, Berkeley House, Cross Lanes, Guildford, Surrey, GUI 1UN
	The Secretary, South West RTAB, South West Regional Assembly, Dennett House, 11 Middle Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SH
	The Secretary, West Midland RTAB, West Midlands Regional Assembly, Regional Partnership Centre, Albert House, Quay Place, 92-93 Edward Street, Birmingham, B1 2RA
	The Secretary, Yorkshire and Humberside RTAB, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly, 18 King St, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2SQ
	Regional Technical Advisory Boards (RTABs) are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act), as they are not specifically listed in Schedule 1 of the FOI Act as a public authority. Furthermore it is unlikely that RTABs would qualify as such by virtue of their composition under any provision of that Schedule.

Sewers: Private Sector

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the transfer of private sewers and drains in England and Wales to the ownership of the statutory water and sewerage companies.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Privately owned sewers and lateral drains in England will be transferred to water and sewerage companies from 2011. The Welsh Assembly Government have outlined how the transfer will be implemented in Wales in its Policy Position Statement on Water which it launched for consultation on 14 January.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Fish

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the re-stocking with fish of lakes located within sites of special scientific interest.

Huw Irranca-Davies: When stocking fish into an inland water, prior written consent must be obtained from the Environment Agency who will assess the risk posed by each application to fisheries and the wider environment. Any application to stock a designated conservation site, is referred to Natural England and/or the Countryside Council for Wales.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for Warm Front grants in Essex are awaiting determination; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: At 19 December 2008, 183,537 applications for Warm Front were outstanding in Essex. Each of these applications is at a different stage of the process, and Warm Front is currently operating well within contractual waiting times in the Essex area.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter to him dated 4 November 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A. Lane.

Joan Ruddock: Departmental reorganisation has led to delays in dealing with correspondence for which Ministers apologise. The letter is currently under consideration and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

Wind Power

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind turbines are operational in the UK.

Mike O'Brien: In terms of wind turbines under 100 kW ('microgeneration'), we assessed in our Element Energy research that there were 1,100 micro-wind turbines installed in the UK at the end of 2007. The research document can be downloaded at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/research/page38208.html
	The following table shows the number of wind turbines above 100 kW generating in the UK at November 2008.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Onshore 2,461 
			 Offshore 149 
			 Total 2,610 
			  Source: AEA Technology, January 2009

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Archaeology: Manpower

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of field archaeologists made redundant in 2008; and what assessment he has made of the effects of such redundancies on the implementation of planning guidance.

Barbara Follett: Neither the Department for Culture, Media and Sport nor English Heritage collates data on the employment of field archaeologists. However, the Institute for Archaeologists, a professional institute for the study and care of the historic environment, is collating data on redundancies in 2008 and will make the information available in the future. The impact of any redundancies may include the potential loss of skills from the sector and pressure on standards in implementing planning guidance.

Arts: Finance

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding Arts Council England has  (a) received and  (b) distributed in each year since its inception.

Barbara Follett: The table shows the total Lottery income and the amount of Lottery money drawn down by Arts Council England for each complete financial year, since the distributing body's inception. Drawdown from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) is used to pay funds to successful grant applicants and meet administrative expenses.
	The figures are taken from the NLDF Annual Accounts. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	
		
			  Rounded to the nearest 000 
			  Financial year  Total income  Drawdown 
			 1994-95 48,894,000 865,000 
			 1995-96 255,292,000 39,828,000 
			 1996-97 262,109,000 134,147,000 
			 1997-98 293,619,000 316,128,000 
			 1998-99 232,099,000 320,057,000 
			 1999-2000 202,349,000 208,815,000 
			 2000-01 200,113,000 218,912,000 
			 2001-02 207,923,000 218,287,000 
			 2002-03 177,770,000 178,533,000 
			 2003-04 161,124,000 182,631,000 
			 2004-05 169,169,000 219,984,000 
			 2005-06 171,941,000 191,968,000 
			 2006-07 149,330,000 147,152,000 
			 2007-08 151,450,000 151,310,000

Convergence Think Tank

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date the Convergence Think Tank was  (a) set up by his Department and  (b) wound down.

Andy Burnham: The Convergence Think Tank was launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 21 December 2007. It was superseded by the Digital Britain project, announced by my noble Friend Lord Carter of Barnes on 17 October 2008.

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on  (a) travel and  (b) overnight expenses for (i) Ministers and (ii) guests attending the Creativity and Business International Network event held in Liverpool on 20 November 2008.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 11 December 2008
	The total amounts spent were as follows:
	 (a) Travel: (i) Ministers was 85 by train (ii) guests was 11,330 by air and train
	 (b) Overnight expenses: (i) Ministers was nil (ii) guests was 3,257.

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on hiring the venue for the Creativity and Business International Network event held in Liverpool on 20 November 2008.

Barbara Follett: The venue costs for the Creativity and Business International Network event held in Liverpool were 5,500.

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the expenditure his Department will incur in supporting the Creativity and Business International Network in Hertfordshire in 2009; how much of that expenditure he expects to be incurred in relation to venue hire; and how the rest of the expenditure breaks down among budget headings.

Barbara Follett: The exact costs of venue hire and other areas of expenditure for the Creativity and Business International Network event at the Grove in Hertfordshire have yet to be finalised and will depend on many factors, including the number of delegates.

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what agenda has been set for the Creativity and Business International Network event to be held in Hertfordshire in 2009;
	(2)  what conclusions were reached at the inaugural meeting of the Creativity and Business International Network; and if he will publish the minutes of the meeting.

Barbara Follett: There was no formal minute taken of the meeting but a summary of the main outcomes will be put on www.cabinetforum.org in due course. The discussion at the first meeting of the Creativity and Business International Network in Liverpool on 20 November 2008 will be used to determine the broad themes for the network in 2009. This in turn will inform the agenda for the event in October 2009 which will be published in the new year at: www.cabinetforum.org

Creativity and Business International Network

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department have duties relating to the Creativity and Business International Network.

Barbara Follett: A full-time equivalent of 1.4 staff within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have duties relating to the Creativity and Business International Network.

Culture: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to promote cultural activities in Coventry.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 15 December 2008
	Arts Council England advises that, in 2007-08, it invested 1,722,974 in Regularly Funded Organisations in Coventry, and 215,463 in Grants for the Arts there.
	English Heritage has invested more than 2 million improving the visitor experience at Kenilworth Castle, which annually receives nearly 100,000 visitors and over 12,000 people participating in educational activities.
	The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is receiving on-going investment from central Government, principally from the Renaissance programme that is managed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisors

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expert advisers have been commissioned by his Department and its agencies since 1997; on what topic each was commissioned; and whether the advisers so appointed made a declaration of political activity in each case.

Andy Burnham: The full information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual 'Public Bodies' publication. Copies of 'Public Bodies' dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from the following websites:
	1999-2006: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies .asp;
	2007: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications /3599.aspx;
	2008: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications /5125.aspx.
	Copies are also available up to 2007 in the Library for the reference of hon. Members.
	Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the appointment of special advisers.

Departmental Public Consultation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on which occasions his Department has convened a citizens' jury or randomly drawn panel of people to aid the Department's policy making since 2000; whether the participants were paid in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: My Department has not used citizens' juries or randomly drawn panels to aid the Department's policy making since 2000.

Disability Reference Group

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects his Department's Disability Reference Group to report to his Department's Board on progress in addressing actions on disability.

Barbara Follett: The Department's Disability Reference Group met twice in 2008 and provided comments on the draft DCMS Secretary of State report on Disability Equality, published on 1 December 2008, which reported on progress in all DCMS policy sectors. The experience of members covers a broad range of sectors, including arts, sport, architecture, media, tourism and general access issues.
	The Disability Reference Group has drawn attention to a number of issues and will submit a formal paper on progressing disability equality to the DCMS Board in early 2009, for discussion by April 2009.

Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on creating the cabinetforum.org website; what the expected annual running cost of the website is; and how many staff have responsibility for the site.

Barbara Follett: The website will develop and evolve over the course of the next 10 months in the lead up to the first Creativity and Business International Network Event in October 2009. The total cost up to that point, including development and running costs is expected to be 150,000. A full-time equivalent of 0.25 staff within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are responsible for the website.

Internet: Bullying

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government plans to take to address incidences of cyber-bullying.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have introduced a comprehensive programme of work to prevent and tackle cyberbullying. We introduced legal provisions in the 2006 Education Act which gave school staff new powers to confiscate mobile phones, and to discipline pupils for bad behaviour outside the school gate, including cyberbullying. We published detailed guidance for schools on how to prevent and tackle cyberbullying in September 2007, and have more recently produced a resource pack for school staff which includes a DVD and a booklet for teachers. We ran a digital information campaign on cyberbullying last year aimed at 12 to 15-years-olds, and re-launched the campaign as part of this year's Anti-Bullying Week. We are currently working with the Cyberbullying Taskforce including industry representatives, law enforcement agencies, the teacher unions and children's charities to produce new guidance to prevent and tackle the cyberbullying of school staff, which we plan to launch in spring 2009. We have asked the Anti-Bullying Alliance and National Strategies to work with local authorities and schools to ensure the cyberbullying guidance is effectively implemented on the ground, and that schools make effective use of the other materials.

Mass Media

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the Convergence Think Tank's interim report on the future policy and legislative framework for the communications industries; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Convergence Think Tank (CTT) will report shortly on the key issues identified through its engagement with stakeholders. As announced on 17 October 2008, the CTT's work, together with other related initiatives, is being taken forward as part of the Digital Britain Report.

Media: Standards

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to send a substantive reply to the hon. Member for Torbay's letter of 14 July 2008 on the display of nudity in television programmes and in mainstream magazines.

Andy Burnham: The hon. Member's letter of 14 July was received in DCMS addressed to my predecessor on 17 October. I understand my noble Friend the Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting wrote to the hon. Member on the 30 November.

Museums and Galleries: Fees and Charges

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the entry fees for the Cabinet War Rooms have been reduced to reflect the reduction in VAT to 15 per cent.

Barbara Follett: The Imperial War Museum has advised that the reduction in VAT to 15 per cent. has not been applied to admission prices for its branches that charge an entry fee: the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms; HMS Belfast; and Imperial War Museum Duxford. To apply the reduction would incur costs in re-printing publicity material and revising contracts with third-party ticket partners. Wherever possible, prices will be held at December 2008 levels and planned rises postponed. Where prices are increasing, these will be modest and in line with other market forces.
	The Imperial War Museum has passed on the VAT reduction at shops in its branches and online, through collections licensing, corporate hospitality and for audio guides. Any increased revenue resulting from the VAT reduction will be directed towards the Museum's programmes of exhibitions, events, education and outreach work, and to maintaining its permanent displays and archives.

Public Libraries: Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council plans to publish its final guidance on controversial publications in public libraries referred to on page 25 of Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities.

Barbara Follett: The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) expects to publish its guidance on Controversial Stock in Public Libraries early in 2009. The guidance will be available on the MLA website once it has been published. The MLA will be supporting the sector in the use of the guidance by offering a series of free workshops in spring 2009, organised in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Radio Frequencies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps Ofcom is taking to remove radio interference affecting short wave users, with particular reference to that caused by  (a) general powerline adaptors and  (b) powerline adaptors provided by BT as part of their Vision system; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Swimming

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department plans to provide to each local authority to provide free swimming in the first year of the scheme's operation.

Andy Burnham: Details of Government funding to participating local authorities to provide free swimming will shortly be placed on my Department's website and in the Library of both Houses.

Swimming Teachers' Association

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration he has given to consulting the Swimming Teachers' Association on future work and policy initiatives concerning swimming.

Andy Burnham: My officials recently met the Swimming Teachers' Association to discuss future work and policy initiatives concerning the Government's Free Swimming Programme. We will continue to involve them in future discussions as appropriate.

Swimming: Low Incomes

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure swimming access for people on low incomes.

Andy Burnham: Increasing overall participation in swimming, including access for people on low incomes, is one of the key aims of the Amateur Swimming Association's (ASA) strategic plan 2005-09. Sport England has contributed in excess of 9 million of Whole Sport Plan funding to this initiative.
	Sport England awarded 3 million to the ASA to support its 'Everyday Swim' project during 2006-08. 'Everyday Swim' is a national project, operating at a number of sites across England. The aim is to deliver a sustained increase in participation, improving people's experience of using public pools, including those on low incomes.
	In addition, the Free Swimming Programme is a 140 million coherent package designed to extend opportunities to swim and to maximise the health benefits of wider participation in swimming.

Swimming: Teachers

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of swimming teachers to staff its free access to swimming initiative.

Andy Burnham: We are working with Sport England, the Amateur Swimming Association and others on the detailed design and delivery arrangements for this initiative. We shall be announcing details of this shortly and in advance of the Free Swimming Programme's national launch in April.

Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of tourists from St Helena who have visited the United Kingdom in the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The International Passenger Survey, which randomly samples passengers entering and leaving the United Kingdom by air, sea or through the Channel Tunnel, groups St. Helena with the dependencies of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, so there is no individual estimate for this individual island.
	In 2007, 1,416 visits to the United Kingdom from these British Overseas Territory islands were recorded by the International Passenger Survey.
	There is no recorded information from the International Passenger Survey for 2006 and 2008.

Tourism

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on the implications of the value of sterling for the British tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: My Department has not had discussions with Treasury on this matter but meets regularly with VisitBritain and hosted a National Tourism Summit in Liverpool on 8 January to consider the ways in which the effects of the economic downturn on tourism can be minimised. VisitBritain will publish its strategic review on tourism support in February 2009 and we are confident this will improve their ability to market Britain internationally and England at home. Recently, VisitBritain and VisitEngland launched a 6.5 million 'Value for Money Campaign'. This will build on the current domestic and international Enjoy England Campaign, which positions England and Britain as good value destinations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq: Christianity

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government plans to make to the Iraqi government on violence against Christians in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Ministers and officials will continue to meet representatives of the Iraqi government to discuss how Christians and all other religious communities can fully enjoy the freedom of worship enshrined in the Iraqi constitution, and are not subject to violence or intimidation. We will continue to advocate that those responsible for such attacks are held to account, regardless of their ethnic, political or religious affiliation.
	I also welcome the continued work of my right hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) in her capacity as the Prime Minister's Envoy for Human Rights in Iraq on the protection of minority communities.

Iraq: Christianity

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make it its policy to support the creation of a self-governing province in northern Iraq linked to Iraq's central government situated in and around the Nineveh Plains and jointly governed by the Assyrian Chaldeans, Shabak, Yezidis and other ethnic groups living in that area.

Bill Rammell: As I said in the Westminster Hall Adjournment debate on 'The Christians of Iraq' on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 44 WH, any decisions regarding changes to the federal structure in Iraq are for the democratically elected Iraqi government and the people of Iraq to make.
	However, dividing Iraq along ethnic, religious or sectarian grounds would be a vastly complicated and potentially volatile process as in many cities and areas of Iraq, people lived in ethnically and religiously mixed communities.

Iraq: Christianity

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the Iraqi government to name publicly the suspects arrested for the recent targeted assassinations of Christians in Mosul.

Bill Rammell: The Iraqi authorities have made it clear that attacks against the Christian community are unacceptable. We have echoed that view publicly and privately in our discussions with them. Whether the suspects should be named is a matter for the government of Iraq, and the Iraqi judicial process.
	We will await the findings of the Iraqi investigation until it is completed.

Libya: Terrorism

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the Libyan government on compensation for victims of IRA terrorism involving arms originating in Libya.

Bill Rammell: The Government have taken regular soundings on Libya's position in respect of its past support for the IRA since the restoration of diplomatic relations, notably in 2004, 2006, in November 2007, and most recently through the United States in August 2008.
	In 1995, Libya accounted for its past support of the IRA to the satisfaction of the then Government. On all subsequent occasions this matter has been discussed, Libya has stressed that it believes the matter is firmly closed. It is the Government's considered assessment therefore that Libya would not be prepared to discuss a bilateral settlement of these cases.
	We will however continue to monitor the Libyan position on this issue.

Rashid Rauf

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Prime Minister was first informed of the suspected death of Mr. Rashid Rauf following the US air strike on the village of Ali Khel on 22 November 2008.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister first learned of the suspected death of Mr. Rashid Rauf from media reporting coming out of Pakistan.

Thailand: Politics and Government

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps in the light of the blockade of Bangkok's two main airports to ensure that UK citizens who are caught up in protests or blockades in other countries can be  (a) kept fully informed and  (b) returned to the UK as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: As we did in Thailand following the blockade of Bangkok airports, we will use Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Advice and the local diplomatic mission's website to provide practical, objective, accurate and up-to-date information to British nationals caught up in similar protests and blockades. We also encourage British nationals to register their overseas travel through the FCO's online travel registration system called LOCATE. British nationals can use LOCATE to tell us where they are travelling and register their contact details. It only takes a few minutes to register with LOCATE and the facility can be found on the FCO's website, alongside our Travel Advice pages. If a British national registers with LOCATE and an incident similar to the airport blockades in Bangkok occurs, our diplomatic mission in the country and crisis response teams in the UK can use the listed contact details to keep people fully informed.
	During the disruption in Thailand we have been in close contact with airlines that have the majority of British ticket holders and have consistently encouraged them to lay on additional flights and honour their responsibilities to their ticket holders. As and when additional emergency flights were scheduled during the blockade, we passed on details of those British nationals who had contacted us to the flight organisers. We understand that many British nationals were able to leave Thailand as a result. Given a similar situation in another country we would expect to take all appropriate and necessary action to ensure British nationals are given similar assistance if required.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to  (a) building societies and  (b) banks of the management expenses bill levied by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in order to service its borrowings in respect of Bradford and Bingley and the Icelandic banks (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of (A) the pre-tax profits for the last three financial years, (B) the retail deposit balance sheet and (C) the total balance sheet of each type of organisation.

Ian Pearson: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is responsible for setting its levies subject to upper limits set in rules made by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA has published on its website:
	www.fsa.gov.uk
	a letter sent to the British Bankers' Association, the Building Societies Association and the Association of Foreign Banks on 31 December 2008 setting out some detailed information regarding the levies payable following recent deposit-taker defaults.

Child Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people claimed child benefit in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) Great Britain in each year since 1999.

Stephen Timms: For estimates of the number of families who were claiming Child Benefit in the areas requested as at the end of August in each year from 1999 to 2002, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 23 March 2005,  Official Report, column 825W.
	Corresponding estimates for each subsequent August from 2003 to 2006 are provided in the HMRC annual publication 'Child Benefit geographical statistics', available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit_geographical.htm.
	Figures for August 2007 are not yet available.

Child Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fathers are in receipt of child benefit; and what proportion of the total number of recipients this represents.

Stephen Timms: Only limited information is available. The most recent estimate is that some 7 per cent. of those on receipt of child benefit are males.

Economic and Monetary Union

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department's tests for potential entry to the euro were last used to make an assessment; and when the Government next plans to reassess performance against the tests.

Ian Pearson: The Government published the assessment of the five economic tests in June 2003. The Chancellor announced in Budget 2008 that
	the Government do not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this budget.
	The Treasury will again review the situation at Budget 2009 as required by the Chancellor's June 2003 statement.

Exchange Rates

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes in the value of the pound against  (a) the US dollar and  (b) the euro on the UK (i) economy and (ii) tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Annex A of the 2008 pre-Budget report (Cm 7484) discusses the potential effects of exchange rate movements. The Government's objective is for a stable and competitive exchange rate in the medium term, consistent with meeting the inflation target.

Insolvency: EU Action

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the provisions of the EU Solvency II Directive; what assessment he has made of those provisions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government have supported the core principles of the Commission's proposal for the Solvency II Directive throughout the negotiations. In particular, capital requirements should be imposed on a consistent basis for all quantifiable risks and diversification effects should be recognised. These principles provide the basis for combining high standards of policyholder protection with value for money for consumers.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he plans to reply to the letter of 10 October 2008 (reference: 3/07508/2008) from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Mr. Mark Osborne of Chelmsford; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply;
	(2)  when he plans to reply to the letter of 20 October 2008 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Mr. Peter Vickers of Chelmsford; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply;
	(3)  when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 October 2008 (reference: 2/01979/2008) from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Mrs. G. Fisher of Chelmsford; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply;
	(4)  when he plans to reply to the letters of 27 October 2008 and 5 December 2008 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford regarding Mr. M. Whitwell of Chelmsford; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Ian Pearson: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been some delay in response. The Treasury hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Official Cars: Procurement

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public procurement contracts are planned involving the purchase of cars, vans and trucks over the next 12 months; and whether the vehicles purchased will be British-built in each case.

Stephen Timms: The majority of vehicles to be purchased by the public sector over the next 12 months will be made through the numerous existing framework agreements. There is no centrally-held list of those that are organisation-specific, but those in the following table are collaborative agreements listed on the OGC Contracts Database. The contracts are with a variety of suppliers and are based on best value for money. Some of the vehicles purchased through these contracts will be wholly or partially built in the United Kingdom, but it is illegal under EU procurement legislation to mandate British-only vehicles.
	
		
			  Lead Authority  Contract 
			 Department of Work and Pensions Motor Vehicle Purchase Framework Agreement 
			 Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Motor vehicles (Purchase of) 
			 Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation Commercial and Passenger Transport vehicles 
			 Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation Specialist vehicles (Purchase of)

Revenue and Customs: Pay

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of  (a) the average full time equivalent pay and  (b) the staff turnover rate of HM Revenue and Customs employees in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) each region of England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The mean Full-Time Equivalent pay (using available figures) for HMRC is estimated as follows:
	(i) Scotland 22,054
	(ii) Wales 22,789
	(iii) Northern Ireland 23,567
	
		
			  (iv)   
			 Eastern England 26,377 
			 East Midlands 26,383 
			 London 34,359 
			 North East 21,940 
			 North West 23,689 
			 South East 27,236 
			 South West 25,133 
			 West Midlands 25,828 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 24,530

Revenue and Customs: Wales

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made 
	(1)  of the annual savings accruing to HM Revenue and Customs as a result of the closure of its Haverfordwest office;
	(2)  of the costs of closing the Haverfordwest HM Revenue and Customs office and relocating staff.

Stephen Timms: The closure of the HMRC office in Haverfordwest will contribute to estimated annual estate savings of 4 million in Wales. Specific estate savings for a particular office cannot be supplied for reasons of commercial sensitivity relating to the accommodation and facility contract between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and its business partner, Mapeley.
	Estate savings are only part of the overall savings HMRC expects to achieve as a result of business efficiencies arising from restructuring.
	While HMRC recognises that there will be short-term costs, including staff relocation costs, associated with the closure of Haverfordwest, reliable figures will only be established once solutions have been found for all staff and the building has been vacated.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many homes have attracted the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes in each month since October 2007, broken down by stamp duty band;
	(2)  how much stamp duty relief has been claimed since October 2007 in relation to zero carbon home purchases.

Ian Pearson: The Government have set a deliberately stretching target that all new homes must be zero carbon by 2016. The stamp duty land tax relief (SDLT) for zero carbon homes was introduced to help kick-start the market for new highly efficient technologies in homes, both for the fabric of the building and in the use of microgeneration, and sets a gold standard for green homes. Few currently exist, but the purpose of the relief is to act as a signal. We have always made it clear that the SDLT relief for zero carbon homes would evolve and we expect to see more of these homes built in the future. Eighteen homes have qualified for the zero carbon homes relief since October 2007, broken down by month and stamp duty band as follows. The total amount of relief given since October 2007 is around 70,000.
	
		
			Band (percentage) 
			1  3  4 
			 2007 October 1 0 0 
			  November 2 0 0 
			  December 3 0 0 
			  
			 2008 January 3 0 0 
			  February 0 0 0 
			  March 1 0 0 
			  April 0 0 0 
			  May 1 1 0 
			  June 1 0 0 
			  July 1 0 0 
			  August 1 0 0 
			  September 0 0 0 
			  October 0 1 1 
			  November 0 0 0 
			  December 0 0 1

Tax Credit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people claimed 
	(1)  working tax credits in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since their inception;
	(2)  child tax credits in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since their inception.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the average number of families benefiting from tax credits in each Government office region, local authority and parliamentary constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are available in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised annual awards. Geographical analyses, for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Air Travel

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many business class, work-related flights taken by members of his Department's staff through the flexible travel scheme were  (a) eligible for downgrade to economy class and  (b) downgraded to economy class in January 2008.

Douglas Alexander: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) location,  (b) duration,  (c) purpose,  (d) number of attendees and  (e) date was of each of his Department's staff retreats in each of the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sight Impaired

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidelines his Department follows in respect of making printed materials and forms accessible to people suffering red/green colour blindness.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) seeks to follow COI Informability guidance wherever possible on the production and design of publications.

JUSTICE

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will list the address of each property used for the Bail Accommodation and Support Service;
	(2)  how much has been paid to ClearSprings for the provision of bail and home detention accommodation since June 2007;
	(3)  if he will list the outward part of the postcode of each property used for the Bail Accommodation and Support Service;
	(4)  how many Bail Accommodation and Support Service properties there are in each Parliamentary constituency in England and Wales;
	(5)  how many  (a) offenders on home detention curfew and  (b) defendants on bail have used the Bail Accommodation and Support Service since June 2007.

Jack Straw: ClearSprings has been paid 8.3 million for the provision of the Bail and Accommodation Support Service from June 2007 to the end of November 2008.
	Lists of the outward part of the property post code for each property currently in use for this service and of the numbers of properties by constituency are set out in the following lists. However, we do not disclose the private addresses of defendants or offenders. The properties used in the Bail Accommodation and Support Service are the private rented homes of those receiving the service.
	As at 12 January, 1,051 offenders on home detention curfew and 1,338 defendants on bail have used the Bail Accommodation and Support Service since June 2007.
	 Post codes
	B18
	B18
	B18
	B21
	B21
	B21
	B67
	B67
	BA2
	B69
	BB10
	BB11
	BB2
	BB9
	BH10
	BH8
	BL1
	BL2
	BL8
	BL9
	BS16
	BS24
	BS5
	BS5
	BS5
	CF11
	CF3
	CF5
	CR7
	CR7
	CR7
	CV6
	DE22
	DE23
	DE23
	DH1
	DH1
	DN17
	DN32
	DN5
	DN7
	DY1
	DY2
	DY2
	DY4
	E17
	E6
	E6
	E9
	EN8
	GL1
	HD2
	HP12
	HU5
	HX5
	IG1
	IP4 2
	L11
	L14
	L21
	L7
	LE2
	LE3
	LE3
	LE3
	LE4
	LL11
	LL13
	LN6
	LS12
	LS7
	LS8
	LU2
	LU3
	LU4
	M18
	M24
	M26
	ME1
	ME4
	ME7
	MK14
	N12
	N18
	N22
	N9
	N9
	N9
	N9
	NE24
	NE32
	NE4
	NE4
	NE63
	NG2
	NG6
	NG7
	NG7
	NN1
	NN18
	NN2
	NN2
	NN3
	NN5
	NP19
	NP20
	NP20
	NR1
	NR5
	NR5
	NR6
	OL1
	OX3
	OX3
	PE2
	PE2
	PE4
	PE4
	PL2
	PL4
	PL4
	PO2
	PO2
	PO4
	PR1
	PR2
	RG1
	RG2
	RG6
	RM10
	RM13
	RM8
	S45
	S65
	S65
	S75
	SA1
	SA1
	SE23
	SE25
	SE25
	SE6
	SN1
	SO15
	SO18
	SR3
	SR4
	ST3
	ST4
	ST4
	ST5
	ST5
	ST6
	ST6
	SW16
	SW16
	TF1
	TS17
	TS18
	TS4
	TS5
	TS5
	UB1
	WA10
	WA4
	WF1
	WF13
	WF13
	WF2
	WF9
	WN2
	WN7
	WN8
	WS2
	WS2
	WV3.
	
		
			  Constituency  Number of BASS properties at 13 January 2009 
			 Barnsley West and Penistone 1 
			 Bath 1 
			 Batley and Spen 1 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 4 
			 Birmingham, Perry Ban- 2 
			 Blackburn 1 
			 Blyth Valley 1 
			 Bolton North East l 
			 Bolton West l 
			 Bootle 2 
			 Bournemouth East 1 
			 Bournemouth West 1 
			 Bristol East 3 
			 Broxbourne 1 
			 Burnley 2 
			 Bury North 2 
			 Bury South 1 
			 Calder Valley 1 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth 2 
			 Cardiff West 1 
			 Chatham and Aylesford 1 
			 City of Durham 2 
			 Corby 1 
			 Coventry North West 1 
			 Croydon Central 2 
			 Croydon North 3 
			 Dagenham 1 
			 Dagenham 1 
			 Derby South 3 
			 Dewsbury 1 
			 Doncaster North 2 
			 Dudley North 2 
			 Dudley South 1 
			 Ealing, Southall 1 
			 East Ham 2 
			 Edmonton 5 
			 Finchley and Golders Green l 
			 Gillingham l 
			 Gloucester l 
			 Great Grimsby 1 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 1 
			 Hemsworth 1 
			 Heywood and Middleton 1 
			 Hornchurch 1 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 1 
			 Huddersfield 1 
			 Ilford South 1 
			 Ipswich 1 
			 Jarrow 1 
			 Kingston upon Hull North 1 
			 Kingswood 1 
			 Leeds East l 
			 Leeds North East l 
			 Leeds West l 
			 Leicester South l 
			 Leicester West 4 
			 Leigh l 
			 Lewisham East l 
			 Lewisham West l 
			 Lincoln 1 
			 Liverpool, Wavertree 2 
			 Luton North 2 
			 Luton South l 
			 Makerfield l 
			 Manchester, Gorton l 
			 Medway l 
			 Middlesbrough 3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Central l 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 2 
			 Newport East 1 
			 Newport West 2 
			 North East Derbyshire 1 
			 North East Milton Keynes 1 
			 North West Cambridgeshire 2 
			 Northampton North 4 
			 Northampton South 1 
			 Norwich North 1 
			 Norwich South 3 
			 Nottingham East 3 
			 Nottingham North l 
			 Oldham East and Saddleworth 1 
			 Oxford East 2 
			 Pendle 1 
			 Peterborough 2 
			 Plymouth Devonport 1 
			 Plymouth Sutton 2 
			 Portsmouth North 1 
			 Portsmouth South 2 
			 Preston 2 
			 Reading East 3 
			 Rotherham 2 
			 Scunthorpe 1 
			 South Swindon 1 
			 Southampton, Itchen 2 
			 St. Helens South 1 
			 Stockton South 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Central 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent North 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent South l 
			 Streatham 2 
			 Sunderland North l 
			 Sunderland South 1 
			 Swansea East 1 
			 Swansea West 1 
			 The Wrekin l 
			 Tyne Bridge 1 
			 Wakefield 2 
			 Walsall North 2 
			 Walthamstow l 
			 Wansbeck l 
			 Warley 2 
			 Warrington South 1 
			 West Bromwich West 2 
			 West Lancashire 1 
			 Weston-super-Mare 1 
			 Wolverhampton South West l 
			 Wrexham 2 
			 Wycombe l

Court Orders: Compensation

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many compensation orders have been issued to offenders in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average value of a compensation order was in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the total monetary value of compensation orders issued by the courts was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of this was collected by the courts and awarded to victims in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The available information shown in the following table shows the total number of compensation orders imposed, the average amount of those compensation orders and the total monetary value of those compensation orders in each of the last five years. Centrally held data do not cover the percentage of these orders that were subsequently collected.
	
		
			  Number of offenders ordered to pay compensation( 1) , average compensation amount and total sum of compensation orders imposed( 2) , 2003-07 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Number of offenders 120,465 123,315 131,687 137.446 165,372 
			 Average compensation amount(3 )() 233 203 242 265 222 
			 Sum of all compensation orders imposed () 34,091,595 25,032,945 31,868,254 36,423,190 36,323,584 
			 (1) These data are not based on a primary disposal basis, a court can order to pay an offender to pay compensation alongside another, e.g. as well as receiving a community sentence an offender could be ordered to pay compensation to the victim.  (2) Excludes summary motoring offences.  (3) Rounded to the nearest .   Note:  These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.   Source:  OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Court Orders: Compensation

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of compensation orders issued by the courts have  (a) not been paid at all,  (b) not been paid in full and  (c) been paid in full in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The requested information is not held centrally. Data on the collection of compensation orders are not held by either the Ministry of Justice or HMCS. Information on the enforcement rate of financial penalties imposed by courts cannot make the distinction between compensation orders and other financial penalties.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access to services.

Michael Wills: The Department, and its agencies, use 42 0845 telephone numbers to provide a range of services to the public. These include IT support for online enquiries, customer service inquiries, contact with the jury summoning office and a small number of courts.
	The 0845 numbers were introduced because, at the time, calls from anywhere in the UK were charged at a local rate making it cheaper for people to make contact rather than using the exchange number. With the expansion of the telecommunications markets, call charges are now set by the individual phone companies, often as part of wider service packages. The charges vary, and are outside the control of the Department. Where possible, customers are also given the exchange number, as depending on the individual inquirer's telephone plan, 0845 may not now be the cheapest option.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation on extending the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: The Government continue to assess the merits of designating additional public authorities under the Act and will publish their response to the section 5 public consultation by the summer.

Offenders: Penalty Notices

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders were  (a) cautioned and  (b) issued with penalty notices for disorder in (i) the Devon and Cornwall police force area and (ii) England in 2007.

Maria Eagle: Data reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform can confirm that the number of offenders cautioned in 2007 were as follows; 10,209 in the Devon and Cornwall police force area and 344,890 in England. From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the above data. The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.
	5,703 PNDs were issued in the Devon and Cornwall police force area and 192,829 in England in 2007.

Probation Service for England and Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average caseload of probation staff was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of the average caseload in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

David Hanson: NOMS does not produce statistics on the average case load of probation staff. However, data are collected on the number of offenders supervised by the probation service and, separately, on the number of staff in post.
	The total number of offenders supervised by the probation service on 31 March 2007 was 237,796. On 31 December 2007 it was 242,722.
	This information is taken from the Probation Statistics Quarterly Brief, which can be found at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/probationquarterly.htm
	No projections of case load are available. However, projections for the number of order and licence starts have been made. These are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Projected community demand (starts) 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 
			   Community order and suspended sentence order  Licence supervision 
			 2008-09 197,500 46,200 
			 2009-10 203,400 47,600 
			 2010-11 209,500 49,000 
		
	
	The number of probation service staff in post for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out as follows. Data for the quarter ending 31 March 2008 are not yet available as they are still being validated. No projections of staff in post are available.
	
		
			  Probation service staff in post: 2006-08 
			   Q1  Q2  Q3 
			  2007-08( 1)  30 June 2007  30 September 2007  31 December 2007 
			 Probation officers(2) 8,038.95 7,973.80 8,257.54 
			 Probation services officers(3) 6,280.56 6,304.56 6,221.76 
			 Other staff 6,549.83 6,388.08 6,415.04 
			 Total 20,869.34 20,666.44 20,894.34 
		
	
	
		
			   Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4 
			  2006-07( 1)  30 June 2006  30 September 2006  31 December 2006  31 March 2007 
			 Probation officers 8,083.97 8,064.97 8,343.64 8,265.35 
			 Probation services officers 6,645.30 6,552.00 6,502.71 6,506.78 
			 Other staff 6,309.82 6,531.73 6,524.63 6,473.53 
			 Total 21,039.09 21,148.70 21,370.98 21,245.66 
			 (1) Figures provided are full-time equivalent. Figures for Quarter 3 2007-08 have yet to be published and may be subject to minor amendment upon publication. Figures for Quarter 4 2007-08 are unavailable as they currently being validated. (2) Includes senior practitioners, probation officers, practice development assessors, trainee probation officers and senior probation officers. (3) Includes probation services officers and treatment managers.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Bullying

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of children of school age experienced bullying in 2007-08.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We collect data on young people's perceptions of bullying through the annual TellUs survey. The TellUs 3 survey for 2007-08 showed that 48 per cent. of children and young people experienced bullying during the previous year, either in school or in another setting. The TellUs 3 statistics are published on our website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000828/index.shtml
	We have introduced an indicator on bullying which underpins the Child Safety public service agreement (PSA 13, NI69), and made clear that we expect the proportion of children and young people who experience bullying to go down over the Spending Review period.

Child Safety Education Coalition

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Child Safety Education Coalition has been established.

Beverley Hughes: On 11 November 2008 the Government announced the award of a grant of 1,619,000 over three financial years to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in partnership with the National Children's Bureau (NCB) to establish a Child Safety Education Coalition.
	Work is progressing well. RoSPA and NCB are recruiting and equipping a secretariat and identifying potential membership. My Department is agreeing with them full terms of reference and a statement of purpose document for the coalition. Key organisations with an interest in practical child safety education have been asked to attend a conference in February 2009 at which they will be invited to become members of the coalition. The membership of the coalition will then be formally announced and the coalition will confirm its priorities and plan of work for the period of the grant.
	A copy of the press notice announcing the award of the grant to establish the coalition is available on the Department for Children, Schools and Families website
	(http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0249).

Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service employees have management responsibilities; and what responsibilities were allocated to each employee payband  (a) at the latest date for which information is available and  (b) five years prior to that date.

Beverley Hughes: Employees who have management responsibilities as at December 2008 are detailed as follows:
	
		
			   Number/percentage 
			 Total number of staff 2,053 
			 Number of staff with management responsibility 253 
			 Proportion of staff with management responsibility (Percentage) 12.32 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 job grade breakdown by payband  2008 headcount  Percentage of total staff with management responsibility 
			 Senior Management including CEO 24 1.17 
			 Heads of Service(1) 25 1.22 
			 Service Managers 128 6.23 
			 Office Managers 50 2.44 
			 Specialist Staff 26 1.27 
			 (1) The job grade Heads of Service was introduced as part of the major restructure of CAFCASS in 2007. 
		
	
	Employees who have management responsibility as at December 2003 are detailed as follows:
	
		
			   Number/percentage 
			 Total number of staff 1,894 
			 Number of staff with management responsibility 305 
			 Proportion of staff with management responsibility (Percentage) 16.10 
		
	
	
		
			  2003  job grade breakdown by payband  2003  headcount  Percentage of total staff with management responsibility 
			 Senior Management including CEO 29 1.53 
			 Regional Directors 10 0.53 
			 Service Managers 121 6.39 
			 Admin Managers/Senior Admin 145 7.66 
			 Specialist Staff 0 0.00

Children in Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for the implementation of his Department's Care Matters proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Care Matters implementation plan was published in March 2008, jointly with members of the Children's Inter-agency Group and other partners including Local Government Association including and Association of Directors for Children's Services. Since then:
	We received Royal Assent in November 2008 for the Children and Young Persons Act which provides the legislative basis for many of the reforms.
	We have launched nine sets of pilots set out in Care Matters and will shortly launch the Social Work Practices and the Social Pedagogy pilots.
	Regional conferences have taken place across England to begin the implementation of care matters reforms. A number of regions are currently holding sub-regional conferences;
	Future plans include:
	Implementation of the Children and Young Persons Act along with supporting regulations and guidance, over the next year.
	We will continue to work closely with partners across sectors to drive up improvements in outcomes for looked after children, building on the new inspection framework being developed by Ofsted, work by the Centre for Excellence in Outcomes and sector led initiatives.
	We will review progress in an annual ministerial stocktake, with the first in autumn 2009. The stocktake will give us the opportunity to evaluate progress and ensure we are on track to deliver our aims for children in care. A short report will be laid before Parliament after each stocktake.

Children in Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to improve the educational support and stability of life of looked-after children.

Beverley Hughes: Through the White Paper Care Matters: Time for Change and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 the Government have put in place a range of measures to improve the educational support and placement stability of looked after children. This includes an annual personal education allowance of 500 for looked after children who are at risk of not reaching the expected standards of attainment.
	To ensure that looked after children get the support they need to help them achieve their potential the governing body of all maintained schools will be required to appoint a designated teacher, and care leavers who undertake a course in higher education will be entitled to a bursary of 2,000.
	We are also strengthening care planning arrangements to reduce disruption to education and training as a result of changes in care placements. Through initiatives such as the Fostering Changes training programme and the Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care and Social Pedagogy pilots we are also taking action to help improve the range of support and skills for foster carers and residential workers to help them meet the needs of looked after children to prevent placement breakdown.

Children: Carers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided to the Children's Society to support professionals working with young carers in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Funding for the Children's Society's project to support and train professionals working with young carers is made available through the Department for Children, Schools and Families' Children, Young People and Families grant programme. In the last 12 months (from January 2008 to December 2008) the Children's Society has received 204,067.
	The grant was awarded to enable the Children's Society in partnership with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers to draw together resources and guidance on good practice in supporting young carers and their families and, on the basis of that, to help train and inform social workers, health workers, teachers and voluntary groups in meeting their needs. The project also supports local authorities to take a whole family approach in the delivery of their support services.
	Funding for the project as a whole covers three financial years running from April 2007 to March 2010. For the current financial year (April 2008 to March 2009), the agreed grant is 203,541, of which 152,655 has already been paid. In the financial year 2007-08, 206.651 was provided; in 2009-10, 208,472 has been awarded, bringing the total available for this project over the three year period to 617,644.

Children: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding streams he plans to include in the individual budgets for disabled children in the forthcoming pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We envisage that the majority of the funding supporting individual budgets in the pilot areas will be sourced from local budgets available to the Director of Children's Services and PCT managers rather than specific grants from DCSF. Determination of these budgets will be a local matter for both local authorities and partnering PCTs. There are however some local authority grants from Government which pilot areas may wish to incorporate. We will indicate in guidance to pathfinder areas that we would like them to explore how the Area Based Grant and the Aiming High for Disabled Children block within the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant can be utilised within individual budgets. Further funding streams may also be indicated at a later date.

Children: Human Trafficking

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps he has taken to improve the protection of children who may have been trafficked.

Beverley Hughes: The Government ratified the Council of Europe convention on action against the trafficking of human beings on 17 December 2008 as part of its wider strategy set out in 'UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking' and published in March 2007. In December 2007 the DCSF and Home Office jointly published guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who may have been trafficked.
	Early identification is the key to protecting these vulnerable children, DCSF is therefore working with the Home Office and key stakeholders to develop a toolkit to help front line staff recognise the potential indicators of trafficking as part of a new National Referral Mechanism (NRM) being set up under the convention to protect all victims of trafficking.
	In addition to this the DCSF has provided substantial funding for ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) to deliver training on child trafficking to front line practitioners dealing with children who may have been trafficked.

Children: Literacy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made under the Every Child a Writer programme; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Improving standards of children's writing is a major priority for this Government, and will be vital in ensuring we reach our Public Service Agreement targets in 2011 for 78 per cent. of children to be reaching the expected level in English and maths.
	Since September 2008 we have been piloting Every Child a Writer, a commitment from our Children's Plan, with funding of 25 million over three years. This programme aims to improve children's writing through leading teacher support for class teachers and intensive one-to-one tuition in the areas of writing children find hardest to master. Every Child a Writer is being piloted in nine local authorities and is due to scale up to reach all local authorities by 2010/11. From next year a further 60 local authorities will enter the programme.
	In September we also launched new materials called Support for Writing for teaching children to write across Key Stages 1 and 2. This guidance and exemplification is available online through the Primary Framework, and is based on effective teaching strategies in the areas we know children find hardest about writing at the moment. The materials focus on ensuring children make good progress in their writing through outlining incremental small steps in learning within the year and specific classroom examples of how teachers might chose to approach each step.

Children: Literacy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish an evaluation of the National Year of Reading.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The 2008 National Year of Reading has been led on behalf of the Department by the National Literacy Trust, who will publish an evaluation in the spring 2009.

Children: Obesity

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to tackle obesity among children under the age of six years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives strategy, published in January 2008 set out the Government's comprehensive plans to reduce obesityinitially focusing on children. Every child should grow up eating well and enjoying being active and we want parents to have the knowledge and confidence to make this happen. There is no single, simple solution to reducing rates of overweight and obesity and therefore Government are taking action on a number of fronts.
	The updated Child Health Promotion Programme was published in March 2008 and prioritises obesity prevention and physical activity through positive parenting during pregnancy and the early years of their children's lives while supporting families facing particular risk factors attributed to causing obesity. We are working to support as many mothers as possible to breastfeed and to continue to breastfeed for longerhelped by schools, children's centres, health and other services, all promoting healthy weight. The introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0 to 5-year-olds means that all early years education providers must promote the good health of children, by providing healthy, nutritious food and active play. The Play Strategy, launched in December 2008, sets how Government will invest 235 million over 2008-09 to 2010-11 to develop play facilities for children of all ages.
	Once children start school they can benefit from school food which must meet statutory nutritional and nutrient-based standards. Nine out of 10 children aged five to 16 now take part in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport each week, compared to one in four in 2002. Nearly all schools are currently participating in the National Healthy Schools Programme with over two-thirds with full National Healthy School Status, having demonstrated they have in place the minimum evidence for 41 criteria across four themes: emotional health and well-being; healthy eating; physical activity and personal, social, health and economic education.
	The National Child Measurement Programme, which weighs and measures children in reception year and year 6 is now in its fourth year and has a participation rate of 88 per cent. From 2008, primary care trusts can routinely feed back the results to parents. All this is supported by the Change4Life campaign which aims to help families eat well, move more and live longer and which is initially focused on families with young children.

Children: Protection

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many preventable child deaths there were in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The reviewing of all child deaths by Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) became mandatory in April 2008. We will shortly be collecting data on the number of deaths reviewed by each LSCB in 2008-09 and the number of these deaths which boards assessed as having been preventable. These data will be published in autumn 2009.

Children: Protection

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy and practice of the Joint Chief Inspectors' report on safeguarding children.

Beverley Hughes: The Government published their full response to the joint Chief Inspectors' report on 15 December 2008. This accepted all of the recommendations on safeguarding. The report provided evidence of improvements in children's services and in outcomes for children and young people since the previous report in 2005, but noted that there was still more to be done to ensure that reforms were being implemented systematically by all local agencies so that children in every part of the country receive the protection they need.
	On 12 November 2008 the Government announced that an independent report would be prepared by Lord Laming on progress being made across the country in implementing effective arrangements for safeguarding children. Lord Laming's work will address key features of good safeguarding practice and whether they are being universally applied across the country, including the development of the professional work force, inter-agency working and effective means of public accountability. Lord Laming will also look at what specific actions should be taken by national Government and other agencies to accelerate improvement across the country.

Children: Safety

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many home safety equipment schemes have been established in each region to date.

Beverley Hughes: The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect information on this topic. However, information provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents suggests that there are around 760 local home safety equipment schemes operating in England. This information is not broken down by region.
	In the Children's Plan the Government announced an 18 million National Home Safety Equipment Scheme to help disadvantaged families reduce the risk of accidents in the home. The National Home Safety Equipment Scheme will work with local partners in disadvantaged areas with the highest child accident rates to support the expansion of existing schemes and encourage the establishment of new schemes.
	Baroness Morgan of Drefelin wrote to local authorities informing them of the Government's progress in delivering the National Home Safety Equipment Scheme on 21 October 2008. Since then, as part of a competitive tending process, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has received and evaluated bids to host the Scheme. A contract to deliver the scheme will be awarded shortly.

Children's Centres

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people have been awarded the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership to date.

Beverley Hughes: 1,051 people have been awarded the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership to date.

Classroom Assistants: Pay

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) nursery nurses and  (b) teaching assistants employed in Slough have not been receiving equal pay compared to Slough Borough Council employees undertaking work of equivalent value in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of (i) the number of women affected and (ii) the potential financial liability of Slough Borough Council; and when he expects the local authority to pay back-dated compensation to the women affected.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally. When setting staff remuneration it is for individual local authorities, as employers, to ensure that they comply with equal pay legislation.

Departmental Advertising

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what advertising expenditure  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies have incurred in each of the last five years, broken down by budget heading.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Promotional campaigns, including those using advertising, are funded from the Department's central advertising and publicity budget and from individual programme budgets held by policy directorates.
	Advertising is part of a fully integrated promotional campaign. The question refers specifically to advertising and we have been able to separate the Department's spend on advertising, as this is centrally placed through the Central Office of Information. The cost of recruitment advertising for the Department has not been included as it is not possible to establish a definitive figure, except at disproportionate expense. The Department's advertising spend and that of its predecessor (DfES) since 2004 is set out in the following tables, with a breakdown of individual campaigns. All figures exclude VAT. Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have their own separate funding streams and consequently administer and manage their own advertising expenditure.
	
		
			  DFES advertising billing 2004-05 
			   
			  Campaign title  Media total 
			 EMA 2004-05 3,853,254 
			 Sure Start Month 2004-05 127,002 
			 Adult Basic Skills Gremlins 2004-05 4,664,833 
			 Teenage Pregnancy (DFES) 2004-05 980,127 
			 Student Finance 2004-05 886,727 
			 Fast Track Teaching 2004-05 69,342 
			 Foundation Degrees 2004-05 483,463 
			 DFES Childcare 2004-05 281,269 
			 Need to Know 2004-05 275,116 
			 DFES Parents Centre 2004-05 172,284 
			 DFES Total 11,793,417 
		
	
	
		
			  DFES advertising billing 2005-06 
			   
			  Campaign title  Media total 
			 DFES Sure Start 2005-06 2,527 
			 EMA 2005-06 1,261,310 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 2005-06 1,298,991 
			 Childcare Recruitment 05-06 590,758 
			 DFES Adult Basic SkillsGremlins 2005-06 1,514,280 
			 DFES Adult Basic SkillsGremlins Miscellaneous 2005-06 125,687 
			 Student Finance 2005-06 2,130,459 
			 DFES Parents Centre 2005-06 142,771 
			 ECM Press Advertising 2005-06 1,984 
			 Foundation Degrees 2005-06 634,353 
			 Fast Track Teaching 2005-06 17,806 
			 DFES Parenting Franchise (Direct Gov Launch) 2005-06 439,878 
			 DFES Education and LearningLaunch Campaign 2005-06 85,479 
			 Need to Know 2005-06 53,971 
			 DFES Total 8,300,254 
		
	
	
		
			  DFES advertising billing 2006-07 
			   
			  Campaign title  Media total 
			 Student Finance 2006-07 2,476,295 
			 Adult Basic Skills 06-07 1,805,199 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 2006-07 1,533,980 
			 Childcare Recruitment 2006-07 404,664 
			 Children and Young People's Workforce Insert 2006-07 45,123 
			 DrugsFrank 2006-07 (Home Office project also) 245,629 
			 Total 6,510,890 
		
	
	
		
			  DCSF advertising billing 2007-08 
			   
			  Campaign title  Media total 
			 Childcare 2007-08 134,943 
			 City Challenge 2007-08 52,707 
			 DCSF Sponsored Parenting Phase 1 2007-08 24,568 
			 STEM 2007-08 285,075 
			 MFL 2007-08 87,209 
			 School Food Trust 2007-08 377,419 
			 Frank 2007-08 (DCSF only) 632,533 
			 Teenage Pregnancy 2007-08 1,499,163 
			 Skills Pledge June 2007 34,781 
			 Diplomas 2007-08 1,459,491 
			 Total 4,587,889

Departmental Consultants

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent on consultants by  (a) his Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body of the Department in each of the last three years, broken down by consultancy.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Consultancy expenditure for the former Department for Education and Skills for 2005-06 and 2006-07 is shown in table 1. Following the announcement of the machinery of Government change on 28 June 2007, which created the Department for Children, Schools and Families, consultancy expenditure for 2007-08 for the new Department is shown in table 2.
	Consultancy expenditure can be attributed to individual suppliers only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2005-06 and 2006-07Department for Education and Skills 
			   million 
			   Consultancy expenditure 
			 2005-06 21.5 
			 2006-07 45.1 
		
	
	A further 8 million in 2005-06 and 14 million in 2006-07 were expended on other external expert advisers on education and children's matters to assist with policy implementation and delivery.
	
		
			  Table 2: 2007-08Department for Children Schools and Families 
			   million 
			   Consultancy expenditure 
			 2007-08 61.4 
		
	
	A further 10.3 million was spent on other external expert advisers.
	The Department does not hold information on consultancy expenditure for its non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost to his Department of provision of office facilities to  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers (i) was in the last 12 months and (ii) has been since 1997-98.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families was created on 28 June 2007. The total cost on the provision of office facilities to press officers and special advisors during the last 12 months amounted to 240,758.90.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and its predecessors did not collect the information from 1997-98 onwards as requested and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Responsibilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against its target to increase the number of children in lower-income working families using formal childcare by 120,000 in 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The final assessment of this target will be based on the findings from the Department's 2008 Parents' Childcare Survey. The results of this annual survey will be available from April 2009.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by his Department for public access to services.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department currently has five services, accessible to the public, which operate using telephone numbers with the 0845 prefix: the Headship Information Line; the DCSF publications helpline, Prolog; the Fast Track Teachers Programme Support and recruitment team helplines; and the National Strategies Customer Service Helpdesk.

Education: Assessments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many responses were received to the consultation on Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The consultation on Confidence in Standards was launched on 17 December 2007 and ran until 10 March 2008. The consultation received 80 responses.

Grandparents: Parental Responsibility

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assistance his Department provides to grandparents who act in loco parentis for their grandchildren; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Grandparents who care for their grandchildren are entitled to the same help from services as any other relative.
	Education legislation makes no distinction between parents and other carers with whom the child is living with regard to service entitlement. Grandparents are also entitled to the same family support services as any parent. Family support services may be provided by a local authority under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need in their area, including promoting the upbringing of such children by their families. These services may include financial help if that is the most appropriate way to meet the child's needs. If grandparents or any other relative are caring for a child who is looked after by the local authority, they will be approved as local authority foster carers and entitled to the same financial allowances and support services as any other foster carer.
	We are also seeking to improve services and supports to relative carers through a number of measures as set out in the Care Matters White Paper. The Children and Young Persons Act, which received royal assent in November 2008 makes it easier for relative carers to obtain an order giving them parental responsibility for the child and to receive financial support on a longer term basis where this is seen to be the most appropriate way to safeguard and promote the child's welfare.

Headteachers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers commissioned by his Department on school leaders.

Edward Balls: I welcomed the Pricewaterhouse Coopers report on school leadership. My Department has since provided funding of 10 million to the National College of School Leadership (NCSL) for succession planning. I have also made the development of new models of leadership one of the key priorities for the NCSL.

Health Education: Alcoholic Drinks

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what peer-designed materials are used within schools to ensure young people are aware of the implications of alcohol abuse.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not collect information on what peer-designed materials are used within schools.
	Alcohol education should be delivered (along with other drug education) through well planned personal, social, health and economic (PSHEE) education. The Department's guidance, Drugs: Guidance for Schools (DFES 2004) makes it clear that schools should work closely with pupils' parents and carers in the development of their drug education programme, so that it is relevant and sensitive to the needs and diversity of its pupils.

Health Education: Sex

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the review of sex and relationship education in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government's response to the review of sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools was published on 23 October. A copy of the response is available at:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=13030.
	The Government believe all children and young people should receive a comprehensive, age-appropriate programme of SRE, to give them the knowledge and skills to make safe and healthy choices about sex and relationships.

National Curriculum Tests: Contracts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether Ministers from his Department had access to the documents and information associated with the procurement of the contract with ETS Europe to deliver the key stage 2 and key stage 3 national curriculum tests;
	(2)  whether Ministers from his Department were consulted on the terms of the contract drawn up between the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and ETS to deliver the key stage 2 and key stage 3 national curriculum tests.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the delivery of National Curriculum tests. The QCA Board took decisions on the procurement and award of contracts. Throughout the procurement process, officials from the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) participated as observers, commenting and asking questions. QCA shared copies of documentation with officials who offered comments. DFES observers did not have voting rights or decision making powers in relation to the procurement. The QCA Board approved ETS as preferred bidder on the 14 December 2006. Ministers were informed of the QCA's choice of preferred bidder on the same day, prior to the commencement of contract negotiations. Ministers were not consulted on the terms of the contract between QCA and ETS. Lord Sutherland has found that the procurement was sound but the QCA did not manage the contract it held with ETS effectively.

National Healthy Schools Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of schools are involved in the Healthy Schools Programme.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: As at 19 December 2008, 97 per cent. of schools were participating in the Healthy Schools Programme with 71 per cent. having achieved full Healthy School status.

National Safeguarding Unit

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the National Safeguarding Unit for the Third Sector has been established; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Following a competitive tendering process, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has recently awarded a contract to deliver the National Safeguarding Unit for the Third Sector. An announcement on this will be made shortly. The Unit will be established and launched by March 2009.

Office of the Children's Commissioner

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding the Office of the Children's Commissioner received from his Department for financial years  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Beverley Hughes: The annual budget for 11 Million (formerly the Office of the Children's Commissioner) is 3 million for both these financial years. The Children's Commissioner for England publishes his annual report and accounts, copies of which are laid before Parliament and available in the House Library.

Ofqual: Public Appointments

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will ensure that appointments to Ofqual will be subject to select committee scrutiny in line with the proposals on page 29 of the Governance of Britain Green Paper of July 2007.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government's response to the House of Commons Liaison Committee report on Pre-appointment hearings by Select Committees was published in June 2008 (ref: First Special Report of Session 2007-2008 HC594). It contains a revised list of all posts that the Government consider suitable for pre-appointment hearings by parliamentary Select Committees.
	The post of chair of Ofqual, the new independent regulator of qualifications and tests which, subject to parliamentary approval will be established in the Children, Skills and Learning Bill in the current session, is included in the list.

Parents: Advisory Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for the launch of the Parent Know How suite of services; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Parent Know How is a suite of services for mothers, fathers and other carers which consists of telephone helplines, text and instant messaging, web-based services and advice through print media, all of which became operational between April and October 2008. These services will be supplemented by a new online directory of local and national services available for parents due to go live in September 2009. The Department has recently advertised its intention to contract for a further round of innovative technology-enabled services and assets which should be developed later in 2009.

Pupil Exclusions

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 15 years were temporarily excluded from state schools in England and Wales for (i) attacking another pupil or teacher, (ii) having drunk alcohol at or before school or having alcohol with them and (iii) carrying an offensive weapon in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority area.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of episodes of fixed period exclusion broken down by reason for each local authority is available as additional information to SFR 14/2008: Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools in England 2006/07 and can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml

Pupil Exclusions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children between the ages of four and 11 years have been  (a) suspended and  (b) suspended more than once from school in (i) the Ribble Valley, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 18 December 2008
	The information requested is shown in the following table for the latest period available.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2,3)  pupils aged four to 11 receiving fixed period exclusions( 4) 
			  2006/07 
			   Number of pupils with one episode of fixed period exclusion  As a percentage of the school population( 5)  Number of pupils with two or more episodes of fixed period exclusion  As a percentage of the school population( 6) 
			 Ribble Valley 44 0.45 23 0.24 
			 Lancashire 623 0.61 380 0.37 
			 England 29,413 0.66 18,686 0.42 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes CTCs and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Pupils aged as at 31 August 2006. (5) The number of pupils with a fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the headcount of pupils in January 2007, excluding dual registrations. (6) The number of pupils with two or more fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the headcount of pupils in January 2007, excluding dual registrations.  Source: School Census

Pupil Exclusions: Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) male and  (b) female pupils who were children in care received one or more fixed period exclusions in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many pupils who were children in care were given a fixed period exclusion in the last 12 months, broken down by national curriculum year group;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of pupils in care were given  (a) a permanent exclusion and  (b) a fixed period exclusion in each of the last 10 years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, 12 months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	This publication contains figures for the period 2005-07.
	Information on exclusions from school can be found in table A which shows the number of permanent exclusions during the previous school year. The OC2 data collection is an aggregate data collection from local authorities and it is therefore not possible to provide this information broken down by national curriculum year group.
	Information on exclusions for looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links.
	Figures for 2002-04 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml
	Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DH/VOL(OUT)01) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml

Pupil Referral Units: Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will introduce legislative proposals to require local authorities to replace failing pupil referral units with a specified alternative.

Beverley Hughes: We intend to introduce the power for the Secretary of State to direct a local authority to replace a pupil referral unit that is in special measures with a specified alternative in the forthcoming Children, Skills and Learning Bill, which was announced in the Queen's Speech on 3 December 2008.
	This will fulfil the commitment we made in the White Paper, 'Back on Track', which was published in May 2008.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made under the London Challenge initiative in addressing the needs of pupils who receive free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Since London Challenge was introduced the proportion of London pupils eligible for FSM who achieve five or more GCSEs at A*-C including English and maths has risen from 22.2 per cent. in 2002 to 33.8 per cent. in 2008.

Pupils: Discipline

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children between the ages of four and 11 years  (a) suspended and  (b) suspended more than once from school in (i) West Chelmsford constituency, (ii) Essex and (iii) England in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The information requested is shown in the table for the latest period available.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2,3)  pupils aged 4 to 11 receiving fixed period exclusions( 4 ) 2006-07 
			   Number of pupils with one episode of fixed period exclusion  As a percentage of the school population( 5)  Number of pupils with two or more episodes of fixed period exclusion  As a percentage of the school population( 6) 
			 West Chelmsford 53 0.57 45 0.48 
			 Essex 816 0.68 558 0.47 
			 England 29,413 0.66 18,686 0.42 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes CTCs and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Pupils aged as at 31 August 2006. (5) The number of pupils with a fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the headcount of pupils in January 2007, excluding dual registrations. (6) The number of pupils with two or more fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the headcount of pupils in January 2007, excluding dual registrations.  Source: School Census

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he last  (a) met and  (b) spoke to Mr. Ken Boston of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) about the QCA's work; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State last met Dr. Ken Boston on 2 June 2008, in a meeting also attended by Sir Anthony Greener, former chair of QCA.
	As Minister responsible for QCA, I have met and spoken to Dr. Boston on a number of subsequent occasions since that meeting.

Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of giving International School Awards for those schools which have begun to integrate global issues and international awareness into the curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The International School Award (ISA) is administered by the British Council on behalf of my Department.
	In 2006, an OFSTED review concluded that:
	It was clear from scrutiny of the self-evaluation forms and the reports that in many schools which had an ISA a significant amount of teachers' and pupils' time was involved in international work. Almost all schools which had completed a SEF mentioned their international work or their ISA within it.
	The report is available at:
	www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Education/Leadership/Governance/Evaluating-internationalism-in-schools/(language)/eng-GB.
	An evaluation report conducted for the British Council in 2008 found that there was:
	...strong evidence of the benefits that international work is bringing to the curriculum in schools and to pupils' engagement with learning.
	I have placed copies of the evaluation report in both Libraries.

Schools: Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the specification for the Home to School Transport ICT solution has been developed alongside the process to appoint a solution supplier.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: An ICT functional specification, aimed at assisting schools in identifying travel needs, carrying out risk assessments and the approval and procurement of a transport solution, has been developed by contractors engaged by the Department. No decision has yet been taken to develop and implement a solution based on that specification or not, and no supplier has been commissioned to do so.

Secondary Education: Absenteeism

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made against the target to ensure that no local authority has more than five per cent. of its secondary school pupils as persistent absentees by 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In 2007/08 (combined autumn and spring terms), eight local authorities (LAs) had persistent absence in maintained secondary schools of over 10 per cent., down from 14 in the same period of 2006/07, and 128 had persistent absence of over 5 per cent., down from 137 in 2006/07. 2008/09 (combined autumn and spring terms) data will be available in October 2009.
	The National Strategies are providing intensive support and challenge to 42 LAs with high persistent absence, ensuring that all of the targeted schools in their authority are implementing agreed actions to reduce their absence rates. The National Strategies are also working with a further 59 LAs to improve their use of data to support and challenge schools with high persistent absence.

Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of schools has implemented a Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning programme.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data collected in July 2008 by National Strategies showed that about 80 per cent. of primary schools and about 30 per cent. of secondary schools have implemented a Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme. The Department expects that by July 2009 about 90 per cent. of primary schools and about 45 per cent. of secondary schools will have implemented a SEAL programme.

Social Workers: Training

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the review of training and continuing professional development of the social care workforce under the National Minimum Standards review to be completed.

Beverley Hughes: The Care Matters White Paper sets out our plans for improving the training and support to foster carers and residential care workers. This commitment is also being taken forward by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) who introduced training, support and development standards to support foster carers from approval through the first two years of service. These give fostering providers a framework for their foster carers' training and professional development. CWDC are currently working with stakeholders to develop a professional development framework for social care workers, this will incorporate the foster care training support and development framework. CWDC are also developing core standards specific to residential care workers that will raise the quality of care and support a child can expect to receive in the home. We will be linking this work to the National Minimum Standards (NMS) as part of our review of the NMS. We will be consulting on changes to these during 2009.

Specialised Diplomas

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects diploma courses in  (a) business, administration and finance,  (b) hair and beauty,  (c) hospitality,  (d) environmental and land-based studies,  (e) manufacturing and produce design,  (f) public services,  (g) retail,  (h) sport and leisure and  (i) travel and tourism to become available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Diplomas in Business, Administration and Finance; Hair and Beauty Studies; Hospitality; Environmental and Land-Based Studies; and Manufacturing and Product Design will all be available for first teaching from September 2009.
	The Diplomas in Public Services; Retail Business; Sport and Active Leisure; and Travel and Tourism, will all be available for first teaching from September 2010.

Teenage Pregnancy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in meeting its objectives; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress his Department has made against its target to reduce the under 18 conception rate by 50 per cent. by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The latest annual data (for 2006) show that since the 1998 baseline year, the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 12.9 per cent. to its lowest level for over 20 years. The 2007 annual data will be published in February 2009.
	While I welcome the steady decline in England's teenage pregnancy rate, we need to accelerate progress if we are to achieve our challenging target to halve the under-18 conception rate by 2010. Consequently, we have issued guidance to all local authorities and PCTs, which sets out what is working in the most successful areas (some of whom have achieved reductions of over 30 per cent.) and encourages all areas to refresh their strategies to incorporate these findings.
	At a national level, our focus is on:
	close monitoring, strengthened performance management and intensive support to the most challenged areas;
	maximising the use of the additional funding for improved provision and use of effective contraception; and
	strengthened communications to young people, parents and delivery partners.

Young People: Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many 17-year-olds participated in education and training in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimates of participation in education for those aged 16-18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June and can be found on the Department's website (http: //www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000792/index.s html). We estimate the numbers of 17-year-olds participating in education and training at the end of 2006 and 2007 were 537,400 and 555,100 respectively.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East paid rent in respect of his residence in Admiralty House during the period of time he resided there while not holding ministerial office.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 117W, and the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1023W.
	The right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) was not charged rent during the short period of time finalising arrangements to move and recovering from his illness.

Asylum Seekers: Homelessness

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) asylum seekers and  (b) failed asylum seekers are registered as homeless in (i) Leeds and (ii) the UK.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government does not collect information on asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers who are homeless. Communities and Local Government collects data from all local housing authorities in England about their activities under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996), including the number of applicants accepted as statutorily homeless, but these data do not identify whether those accepted as statutorily homeless may be asylum seekers. Asylum seekers who claimed asylum after 2 April 2000 are not eligible for assistance under the homelessness legislation; neither are failed asylum seekers.

Community Relations: Departmental Coordination

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in each Government Office work on cohesion and integration related issues; and what the cost of employing these staff is expected to be in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the two subsequent years.

Sadiq Khan: The following table shows the number of staff in each Government office working on the cohesion and integration agenda over the next three years with the related staff costs.
	
		
			  GO  2008-09  2009-10 (est)  2010-11 (est) 
			   FTEFTEFTE   
			 GO South West 2.2 69,249 2.1 69,648 2.1 72,157 
			 GO South East 3.5 175,668 3.5 182,791 3.5 188,766 
			 GO London 1 47,500 1 49,000 1 50,500 
			 GO East 1.5 66,772 1.5 69,058 1.5 71,474 
			 GO West Midlands 2.5 154,740 2.5 167,250 2.7 180,820 
			 GO East Midlands 2.0 86,463 2.0 94,151 2.0 98,492 
			 GO North West 1.3 62,360 1.9 95,339 1.9 98,829 
			 GO Yorkshire and the Humber 1.0 47,518 1.0 49,319 1.0 50,658 
			 GO North East 0.6 34,000 0.6 35,000 0.6 36,000 
			 GO Network total 15.6 744,270 16.1 811,556 16.3 847,696

Council Housing

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to allocate any surplus in the housing revenue account subsidy system in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11 to housing for council tenants.

Iain Wright: The cost of running council housing varies across the country, and so we have a system which redistributes surpluses in some authorities to deficits in others. We have this system to ensure that rents remain affordable.
	In recent years the system of council housing subsidy has been in deficit throughout the country, with the Treasury making up the shortfall. It is only from 2008-09 that the position has reversed with the overall system moving into surplus. In this financial year the Treasury plans to allocate around 5.9 billion in total for housing expenditure, considerably more than the resources flowing back to Treasury.
	Communities and Local Government, jointly with the Treasury, is currently conducting a Review of Council Housing Finance, including looking in depth at key issues such as the cost of running council house stock, rents, management and maintenance costs, redistribution and the use of surpluses. The Review will report to Ministers in spring 2009, and will inform the next spending review with consultation thereafter .

Departmental Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the official engagements of  (a) the Minister for London,  (b) the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and  (c) the Minister for the South East in their role as regional ministers were from 1 December to 31 December 2008.

Sadiq Khan: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		
			  Rt Hon Tony McNulty: Minister for London 
			  Date  Outline of visit  Location 
			 1 December 2008 Speech at the London PREVENT Network Riverwalk House, Westminster 
			 4 December 2008 OSCT Regional Event on PREVENT Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster 
			 8 December 2008 Association of Colleges (AoC) visit Harrow College, Harrow 
			 11 December 2008 London Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) Summit New Scotland Yard, Westminster 
			 15 December 2008 Speech at Celebrating Colleges Contribution to London event House of Commons, Westminster 
			 16 December 2008 Launch of the MPS announcement on work with retailers on knife sales New Scotland Yard, Westminster 
			 18 December 2008 Visit to JTAC (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre) Millbank, Westminster 
			 18 December 2008 Meeting with the Metropolitan Police New Scotland Yard, Westminster 
		
	
	
		
			  Rosie Winterton MP: Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber 
			  Date  Outline of visit  Location 
			 4 December 2008 Meeting with John Blevins Lead Union Learning Representative, BT/CWU Learning Centre in Northallerton London 
			 5 December 2008 Attend Regional Responses to the Economic Downturn Event Rotherham 
			 8 December 2008 Attend Yorkshire and Humber Economic Development Group Leeds 
			 10 December 2008 Attend London 2012 Yorkshire and the Humber Parliamentary briefing London 
			 12 December 2008 Attend the Association of Colleges (AoC) Yorkshire and the Humber Principals and Chairs Forum Doncaster 
			 15 December 2008 Meeting with LloydsTSB London 
		
	
	
		
			  Jonathan Shaw MP: Minister for the South East 
			  Date  Outline of visit  Location 
			 2 December 2008 Speech and discussion at Building Blocks housing event with Shelter, National Housing Federation and Chartered Institute of Housing London 
			 2 December 2008 Meeting with SEEDA and Kimberly-Clark Gatwick, East Sussex 
			 2 December 2008 Speech at SEEDA Regional Infrastructure dinner Gatwick, East Sussex 
			 3 December 2008 Speech at turf-cutting ceremony for Kent Innovation Centre University of Kent at Canterbury 
			 8 December 2008 Speech at Placeshaper Housing Association reception House of Commons 
			 12 December 2008 Speech at event with young people and Beijing medallists re: 2012 Wentworth, Surrey

Departmental Telephone Services

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what use  (a) her Department and  (b) service providers under contract to her Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration her Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government do not require the public to make telephone calls on numbers which charge more than the national rate. Neither Communities and Local Government or its service provider (Siemens) generate any income from calls. The only 0845 number used is the Neighbourhood Renewal helpline (0845 0828383). However, calls to this number are diverted to the main Communities and Local Government switchboard and are charged at a local rate to the caller. Later this year, CLG will introduce the new 0300 number range when it commences a new contractual telephony arrangement.

Fire Prevention

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Fire Kills campaign.

Sadiq Khan: Provisional figures show that in 2007 there were 190 accidental dwelling fire deaths in England, down 18 per cent. from the 2006 figure of 233 accidental dwelling fire deaths. This is the lowest figure for accidental dwelling fire deaths in England since 1981.
	The fire safety campaign has been running under the Fire Kills brand for the last 10 years and has been a pivotal part of the Government's success in reducing domestic fire deaths. The success of the Fire Kills campaign has been largely due to a series of national advertising campaigns, focused on the use and maintenance of smoke alarms. There is strong evidence that the public respond positively to the campaign's messages, and have bought smoke alarms as a result of them.
	The most recent campaign, 'Pull Your Finger Out', first ran from January to March 2008. The smoke alarm industry reported a significant increase in sales during this period, while pre- and post-tracking research has shown that the percentage of people who could recall fire safety advertising without being prompted rose from 46 to 64 per cent.

Fire Services: Standards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to publish the Audit Commission's comprehensive performance assessment reports for 2006 on fire and rescue services in England.

Sadiq Khan: The Audit Commission undertook a comprehensive performance assessment of fire and rescue authorities in 2005, the results of which were published in July 2005. The Commission followed this up with annual performance assessments of each fire and rescue authority, determining the extent of improvement or deterioration in service delivery over the previous year, how well the authority manages its finances and how effectively it plans and responds to emergencies and incidents.
	The performance assessment for 2006 was published in April 2007 and the one for 2007 in January 2008. I understand that Commission is proposing to publish the annual performance assessment for 2008 next month.

Home Information Packs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effects of the cost of home information packs on people seeking to sell houses.

Margaret Beckett: The most recent assessment made of the effects of the cost of home information packs on people seeking to sell houses was independent research carried out by Europe Economics, published in November 2007. They found no evidence of any impact of HIPs on transactions and prices and only a short-term impact of HIPs on new listings which would be marginal compared to wider factors.

Homelessness: Economic Situation

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the effects on levels of homelessness of the economic downturn; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We allocated over 200 million to local authorities and the voluntary sector between 2008-09 to 2010-11 to tackle homelessness effectively. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness and rough sleeping services. The latest statutory homelessness statistics were published on 11 December 2008, and includes statistics up to the July to September quarter. This showed that local housing authority homelessness acceptances fell compared to the previous quarter and year, with 14,340 during the quarter, and the number of households placed in temporary accommodation has continued to fall, for the twelfth consecutive quarter, to 72,130 by the end of September.
	We also recently announced a 200 million Mortgage Rescue Scheme to help vulnerable homeowners. This scheme is available to all local authorities and will aim to help up to 6,000 of the most vulnerable households avoid the trauma of repossession and possible risk of homelessness over the next two years. This scheme is now operational.
	Alongside this, the new Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, which was announced in the Queen's Speech, will enable households that experience a significant and temporary loss of income as a result of the economic downtown to defer a proportion of interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years. The Government will guarantee the deferred interest payments in return for banks' participation in the scheme.
	We will continue to monitor developments on all of the above in the light of the economic downturn.

Homelessness: West Yorkshire

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were recorded as homeless in  (a) Leeds,  (b) West Yorkshire and  (c) the UK in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level. The Department does not hold statistics for the devolved Administrations. Local authorities within West Yorkshire are as follows; Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield.
	Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Information is also collected on the number of people who sleep roughthat is, those who are literally roofless on a single night.
	Summary tables showing the total number of households (a) accepted as owed a main homelessness duty and (b) in temporary accommodation for each year since 1997-98, and (c) rough sleeper estimates for each year since 1998, for each local authority, were provided in my answer given to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1499-1500W, and are available in the Library. An extract showing data for the last five years for the local authorities within West Yorkshire is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table A: Number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty during the year, in local authorities within West Yorkshire local council, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Bradford 1,038 903 603 868 837 
			 Calderdale 502 (1) 347 171 115 
			 Kirklees 1,545 1,550 1,041 800 (1) 
			 Leeds 4,948 2,782 1,882 1,707 1,142 
			 Wakefield 459 326 (1) 165 136 
			 England(2) 135,430 120,860 93,980 73,360 63,170 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of households in temporary accommodation, in local authorities within West Yorkshire local council, March 2004-March 2008 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Bradford 47 62 64 83 90 
			 Calderdale 50 71 76 53 46 
			 Kirklees 239 259 291 203 137 
			 Leeds 748 501 502 548 401 
			 Wakefield 235 242 131 94 78 
			 England(2) 97,680 101,070 96,370 87,120 77,510 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Number of rough sleepers (persons), in local authorities within West Yorkshire local council, 2004-08 (mid-year estimates) 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Bradford 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Calderdale 2 0 0 0 1 
			 Kirklees 0 0 0 3 0 
			 Leeds 4 4 1 1 6 
			 Wakefield 3 3 0 0 0 
			 England 508 459 502 498 483 
			 (1 )Denotes data not reported by local authority (2 )Figures that include estimates of missing data 
		
	
	Figures for acceptances and temporary accommodation can be found in our quarterly statistical release on statutory homelessness. This is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 11 December 2008, and provides national and regional acceptance figures in table 3, and temporary accommodation figures in table 7, both back to 1997-98:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/840324.xls
	English rough sleeper estimates and the count guidance are published and can be found at the following web address;
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/roughsleeping/

Liverpool Corporation Act 1902

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers the Secretary of State has in respect of the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902; and what responsibilities she has in respect of breaches of the Act.

Sadiq Khan: The Liverpool Corporation Act 1902 makes certain provisions in relation to the Local Government Board whose functions, which were transferred to Ministers by the Ministry of Health Act 1919, are now exercisable by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (save for some health functions and Wales). Breaches of any Act, including the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902, are matters for the court.

Local Government Finance Division

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what working groups there are within her Department's Local Government Finance division.

John Healey: Local Government Finance division co-ordinates the following working groups:
	Settlement Working Group
	Capital Programmes Working Party
	Central Local Information Partnership
	Local Government Pension Scheme 111 Health Review Group
	Firefighters' Pensions Committee
	Local Government Pension Scheme Policy Review Group.

Minerals: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to planning guidance issued by her Department on mineral extraction since 1997.

Iain Wright: The following new or revised minerals planning guidance has been issued since 1997:
	Minerals Planning Guidance Note 4 (MPG4): Revocation, Modification, Discontinuance, Prohibition and Suspension OrdersTown and Country Planning (Compensation for Restrictions on Mineral Working and Mineral Waste Depositing) Regulations 1997 (August 1997).
	Minerals Planning Guidance Note 2 (MPG2): Applications, Permissions and Conditions (July 1998)/
	Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 (MPG3): Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal (March 1999).
	Minerals Planning Guidance Note 5 (MPG5): Stability in Surface Mineral Workings and Tips (January 2000).
	National and Regional Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England 2001-2016 (June 2003).
	Minerals Policy Statement 2 (MPS2): Controlling and Mitigating the Environmental Effects of Minerals Extraction in England, including Annexes on Dust and Noise (March 2005).
	Minerals Policy Statement 1 (MPS1): Planning and Minerals (November 2006).
	In addition, national planning policies set out in a number of Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Planning Policy Statements published since 1997 may also be relevant to developments involving mineral extraction. My Department has also published practice guidance to support national planning policies set out in Minerals Planning Guidance Notes. These documents are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyguidance/mineralsandwaste.

National Community Forum

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the National Community Forum's main priorities are for 2008-09; how many staff the Forum employs; and what the annual running cost of the Forum will be in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the two following years; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The National Community Forum's (NCF) current work programme focuses on two main areas; 'Anchoring Resources in the Community', which looks at approaches to social enterprise within local communities, and 'Community Wellness', which is developing an understanding of healthy, sustainable communities.
	The NCF is made up of members who live or work in deprived communities across England. Their direct experience ensures that there is a broad range of knowledge and understanding of how policy works on the ground. From January 2009, there are 16 members, including the chair. NCF have recently appointed an interim advisor until April 2009, to help to ensure the Forum provides timely and credible advice to Government Departments by supporting members in their discussions.
	The annual budget for NCF in 2008-09 is 130,000.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury on the subject of empty property business rates.

John Healey: The Department has no record of any representations from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury in regard to empty property rates. However the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury has made representations to Her Majesty's Treasury in his role as Minister for the North East.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of new valuations of British ports for business rates by the Valuation Office Agency  (a) have been completed and  (b) remain incomplete.

John Healey: Initial reviews of all 55 major ports in England and Wales have now been completed. The rating list has been updated for 50 of these. In the remaining five ports, the Valuation Office notified the ratepayers of its conclusions by 28 November, inviting them to discuss the proposed changes in advance of the rating list being formally amendedwhich it would expect to do no later than 31 January.
	The Valuation Office must continue to maintain the rating lists throughout their five-year life to reflect changes affecting properties or their manner of occupation included within ports. As changes are identified which necessitate a revision of individual assessments, port ratepayers, like as any other business ratepayer, will again be notified of the Valuation Office's intentions and invited to discuss proposed changes in advance of the rating lists being formally amended.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1903W, on Travelling people: council tax, what guidance has been given to local authorities on whether unauthorised Traveller sites should receive rubbish collection services.

Iain Wright: Local authorities are responsible for the collection and disposal of waste in their local area. Communities and Local Government has not produced guidance on whether unauthorised developments and encampments should receive waste collection services. However, 'Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping', published in 2004, gives guidance on dealing with waste and fly-tipping when managing an unauthorised encampment, including the use of Codes of Expected Behaviour.
	Local authorities may want to consider whether the provision of means to enable Gypsies and Travellers on unauthorised encampments to dispose of their rubbish and waste, for an appropriate fee, is appropriate in individual circumstances. Such action was recommended by the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement and could help to minimise costs to the authority.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Department of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland has for action in civil recovery; when these will be implemented; and what budget has been set aside for such civil recovery work in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House. When responding to all correspondence the Department abides by the guidance as set out in 'Handling correspondence from MPs, Lords, MEPs and Members of Devolved Assemblies' which was published by the Cabinet office in July 2005.
	 (b) To retrieve the information relating to emails can only be achieved at a disproportional cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of contractors and suppliers to (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have reported that they are compliant with the Government's security standards following publication of the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government, and the accompanying document, Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action, on 25 June 2008.

Si�n Simon: (a) All of the Department's suppliers and contractors who handle personal or sensitive data comply with Government security procedures, and the Data Handling Procedures in Government report.
	 (b) The agencies have passed on the requirements to their contractors, and are monitoring their progress towards full compliance.
	New contracts placed by the Department or its agencies will incorporate the advice issued following the Data Handling report.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many contracts  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; for which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas in the case of each such contract.

Si�n Simon: The controls in place ensure that contractors do not store personal data overseas.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when his Department appointed a senior information risk owner in accordance with the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government and the accompanying document Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action; when the appointment was made; and what grade the person holds within the Department.

Si�n Simon: The Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) was first appointed in February 2008. The SIRO holds a Director General position.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of the IT systems in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are fully accredited to the Government's security standards.

Si�n Simon: For systems that require accreditation according to Government's security standards:
	 (a) All systems (100 per cent.) fully accredited.
	 (b) All systems at the National Weights and Measures Laboratory are accredited. At the Intellectual Property Office, all externally facing and 3(rd) party provided systems are accredited. Accreditation of the internal systems is ongoing.

Departmental Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Si�n Simon: The Department has spent 3 million on the Student Finance Campaign for the year 2008-09.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access to services.

Si�n Simon: The Department does not offer any 0845 numbers.
	The Department is responsible for two agencies: National Weights and Measures Laboratory and the UK Intellectual Property Office.
	National Weights and Measures Laboratory does not offer any telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers for public access to services.
	UK Intellectual Property Office offers three 0845 numbers. The caller incurs a local rate charge which is set by their service provider.

Further Education: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what entitlement individuals over the age of 25 wishing to study a course at a further education college have to  (a) grants and  (b) income-dependent loans.

Si�n Simon: Individuals over the age of 25 studying in further education colleges can apply for an Adult Learning Grant which pays up to 30 a week for those on low incomes studying full-time for a first full Level 2 and for a first full Level 3 qualification.
	There is no Government funded income contingent loan scheme available for students undertaking FE courses. Students may apply for Career Development Loan which is a commercial loan where the Department pays the interest during the period of learning. Students who wish to study on HE courses, including foundation degrees, delivered at FE colleges are eligible to be assessed for support under the HE package of maintenance grants and loans for living costs.

Further Education: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what advice on funding is available to individuals over the age of 25 wishing to study a course at a further education college.

Si�n Simon: Every adult in England can access free information and advice about careers, learning and work, including help about funding available for those wishing to study at a further education college, such as Adult Learning Grants, Career Development Loans and discretionary support for additional costs of learning such as child care and transport costs.
	Advice and support is available by telephone or online through the national Careers Advice Service, or face to face from local nextstep services. All learners participating in LSC funded learning can also receive information and advice from their learning provider.

Higher Education: Standards

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he plans to take to maintain the international reputation of the UK's higher education sector.

David Lammy: We have a world class system of higher education in this country, with rising student numbers, high levels of student satisfaction and graduate employability, and an increasing world share of citations and high-impact research papers. Government investment in higher education is 23 per cent. higher than in 1997. That is in sharp contrast to the 36 per cent. fall in funding per student in the previous 10 years. We have also doubled investment in research.
	As part of our debate on the future of higher education, we have received contributions from a range of individuals and organisations in the sector. These contributions stress the importance of internationalisation, and of ensuring that we maintain our leading position in higher education internationally.
	We want to ensure that our higher education system remains world class, and we are clear that international competition will increase. To do this we need to have a long-term approach. We will publish a framework during 2009 which will set out our vision for higher education over the next 10 to 15 years. However, it will not be a rigid plan: it will be capable of being adjusted over time as the world changes, but will set a compelling vision of long-term success.

Institute for Animal Health Pirbright Laboratory

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much capital expenditure was incurred for each separate project of works at the Institute for Animal Health Pirbright Laboratory in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 to date.

David Lammy: The capital expenditure incurred for each project at the Institute for Animal Health Pirbright Laboratory from 2007-08 to date is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  IAH Pirbright c apital  w orks 
			  000 
			  Project  2007-08  April to October 2008 
			  PSRP   
			 New Lab construction 486  
			 Preliminaries on new lab 5,604 2,125 
			 IS011 3,918 364 
			 Drainage (Vacuum) 397 1,380 
			 ETP containment 112  
			 Insectary 22  
			 Services 9  
			 Infrastructure works 682 185 
			 IAH project costs 1,646 677 
			
			  Others   
			 Modular laboratory  393

Learning and Skills Council: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the adult Learning and Skills Council budget for  (a) the North West,  (b) Greater Manchester,  (c) the West Midlands and Birmingham and  (d) London was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Si�n Simon: The London Adult Skills budget for 2009-10 was set out in the latest Grant Letter to the Learning and Skills Council published on 18 November 2008, as 635 million.
	The Adult Skills budget allocations process for 2009-10 is currently underway. This involves discussions with FE Colleges and providers, partners and other organisations which will inform final decisions. This ensures that the needs of the local communities are met and that the activity delivered supports the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with further information including the most up to date figures. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many former prisoners are employed by his Department; and what his Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.

Si�n Simon: The Department undertakes employment history, Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Disclosure Scotland checks as appropriate. If these checks identify any issues around people with criminal records then suitability for employment is considered with the Department's interest paramount. In addition, all individuals recruited to a regulated post, or to a post where they have access to personal or sensitive data about children or vulnerable adults are subject to an enhanced CRB check.
	Although the information is used as part of the recruitment process, we do not then transfer any details on criminal records to the central personnel record and as such the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many staff in his Department left under  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in each year since 2005-06; how many of them in each case were paid (i) up to 25,000, (ii) 25,001 to 50,000, (iii) 50,001 to 75,000, (iv) 75,001 to 100,000 and (v) over 100,000 in the year before they left; and how much (A) was spent in each of those years and (B) is planned to be spent on such schemes in (1) 2008-09 and (2) 2009-10 by (y) his Department and its predecessor and (z) each of his Department's agencies.

Si�n Simon: The Department was created in 28 June 2007. Since its inception, there were seven early releases in 2007-08, at a total cost of 512,000 and two in 2008-09 at a total cost of 90,000. There are currently no early releases planned for 2009-10. Information related to costs is not available in the form requested and could be obtain only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has two agencies. The National Weights and Measures Laboratory has not had any early releases during the period requested and none are planned during 2009-10. However, UK-IPO has had early releases. Since 2005-06, 58 people have left under voluntary exit schemes, including four to 31 October 2008 in 2008-09. The breakdown of the value of payments was (i) 24, (ii) 17, (iii) 6, (iv) 2 (v) 9.
	On an accruals basis there were 53 departures for 2005-06 costing 2,571,000, none in 2006-07 and one in 2007-08 at 55,000. Approximately 89 are expected in 2008-09 at an estimated cost of 6,865,000. There are currently no early releases planned for 2009-10. Information related to costs is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Students: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the average maintenance grant payment to eligible undergraduate students was in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Average Higher Education Grant and Maintenance Grant ()( 1) 
			  England 
			   2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			 Higher Education Grant(2) 870 890 890 
			 Maintenance Grant(3) n/a 2,010 2,090 
			 (1) Figures rounded to nearest 10. (2) Average amount for those awarded a Higher Education Grant. (3) Average amount for those awarded a Maintenance Grant. 
		
	
	The Maintenance Grant for living costs was introduced in 2006/07, replacing the Higher Education Grant for new entrants.

Students: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what procedures are in place for informing  (a) students and  (b) recent graduates about the change to student loan interest rates implemented on 5 December 2008.

David Lammy: The Student Loans Company (SLC) published details on the change to student loan interest rates implemented on 5 December 2008 on their website and in national newspapers. Borrowers receive details of new interest rates in their statement each year from the SLC. Information on the interest rate change was also published on the Directgov website.
	Following the latest reduction in the Bank of England base rate by the Monetary Policy Committee on 8 January 2009, all the specified banks(1) have now reduced their base rates to 1.5 per cent. The SLC has therefore now reduced the interest rate for income contingent loans from 3 per cent. to 2.5 per cent. with effect from 9 January 2009 until further notice. The SLC has accordingly published this information on their website and in national newspapers.
	The interest rate for loans taken out before 1998 (known as mortgage style loans) is not affected as these loans are governed by different legislation.
	(1)Bank of England; Bank of Scotland; Barclays Bank PLC; Clydesdale Bank PLC; Co-operative Bank PLC; Coutts  Co; HSBC Bank PLC; Lloyds TSB Bank PLC; Natwest Bank PLC; the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Alcoholic Drinks: Sales

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with pubcos on their policy in providing discounts on beer sold to  (a) traditional pubs and  (b) supermarkets.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 14 January 2009
	I have not met with Pubcos to discuss their pricing policies. This is a commercial matter for the businesses concerned. Ensuring that markets operate freely and fairly is a matter for the independent competition authorities, rather than for Government. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has the powers to investigate and take action if companies are abusing a dominant position in a market or behaving anti-competitively, including referral to the Competition Commission.

Electric Cables

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) volume and  (b) monetary value was of imports to the UK of fire-resistant electric cable from (i) the EU, (ii) non EU countries and (iii) China and India in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The information requested is not available because the system of classification used to record trade does not separately identify fire-resistant electric cable.
	The UK's imports of all types of electrical wire, cable and other conductors, are as follows:
	
		
			million  Metric tonnes 
			  2003   
			 Total imports 1,140 325,839 
			 EU27 countries 971 204,412 
			 Non-EU countries 169 121,427 
			 China 71 37,279 
			 India 5 3,705 
			
			  2004   
			 Total imports 1,282 353,392 
			 EU27 countries 857 216,763 
			 Non-EU countries 425 136,630 
			 China 72 37,696 
			 India 7 4,116 
			
			  2005   
			 Total imports 1,298 337,313 
			 EU27 countries 798 186,995 
			 Non-EU countries 500 150,317 
			 China 84 40,312 
			 India 15 6,649 
			
			  2006   
			 Total imports 1,658 371,494 
			 EU27 countries 968 194,184 
			 Non-EU countries 690 177,310 
			 China 122 44,763 
			 India 26 8,194 
			
			  2007   
			 Total imports 2,024 442,594 
			 EU27 countries 1,216 243,583 
			 Non-EU countries 808 199,011 
			 China 153 49,990 
			 India 30 8,888 
			  Note: Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) 773.1Insulated electrical wire, cable and other conductors, with or without connectors

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Waste Directive; with what outcomes; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: This Department has worked consistently with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. DEFRA have more recently played a key role in the review of the UK WEEE system announced in July 2008. We will continue to work closely with DEFRA, as the UK WEEE system matures, to ensure that we maximise the separate collection of WEEE within the UK and reach the highest standards of treatment and reprocessing.

Non-profit Making Associations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many social enterprises there are in each region  (a) in total and  (b) per 10,000 population.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent figures suggest that there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK. Social enterprises are not, however, defined by a particular legal form and as a result are not required to register with any one body. Information on the number of social enterprises in each region is, therefore, unavailable. Based on the most recent estimates, there are about 11 social enterprises per 10,000 adult population (over 16 years).

Official Visits: Russia

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008,  Official Report, column 471W, on official visits: Russia, if he will place in the Library the list of the Secretary of State's engagements during his visit to Russia in October 2008.

Gareth Thomas: A copy of the list of my noble Friend the Secretary of State's engagements during his visit to Russia in October 2008 will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Overseas Trade: Libya

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value of British  (a) exports to and  (b) imports from Libya was in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Data on recorded trade in goods with Libya are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   million 
			   UK export of goods to Libya  UK import of goods from Libya 
			 2003 241 202 
			 2004 216 196 
			 2005 211 356 
			 2006 203 592 
			 2007 232 580 
			  Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics 
		
	
	Estimates of trade in services are not available for the full five years. ONS data published in the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book 2008 were:
	
		
			   million 
			   UK exports of services to Libya  UK imports of service from Libya 
			 2006 167 56 
			 2007 194 88

Small Businesses: South East

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many small and medium-sized enterprises there were in  (a) Southampton,  (b) Test Valley Borough,  (c) Eastleigh Borough and  (d) Romsey constituency in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: Estimates of the number of small to medium-sized enterprises are not available below the regional level in each of the last five years.
	Only data for businesses of all sizes registered for VAT are published by BERR. It is estimated that the majority (97.9 per cent.) of these will be small (with fewer than 50 employees) and a further 1.7 per cent. will be medium-sized (with 50 to 249 employees).
	The number of businesses registered for VAT in Southampton Unitary Authority, Test Valley and Eastleigh local authorities and Romsey constituency for the start of 2004 to the start of 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Start of year stock of VAT-registered businesses, 2004-08 
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Southampton Unitary Authority 4,770 4,845 4,945 4,990 5,070 
			 Eastleigh 3,970 4,095 4,195 4,300 4,465 
			 Test Valley 4,550 4,660 4,715 4,765 4,895 
			 Romsey Parliamentary Constituency 3,575 3,630 3,650 3,685 3,755 
			  Source: BERR National Statistics publication 'Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2007' available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm 
		
	
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in Southampton Unitary Authority rose from 4,770 at the start of 2004 to 5,070 at the start of 2008.
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in Eastleigh rose from 3,970 at the start of 2004 to 4,465 at the start of 2008.
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in Test Valley rose from 4,550 at the start of 2004 to 4,895 at the start of 2008.
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in Romsey parliamentary constituency rose from 3,575 at the start of 2004 to 3,755 at the start of 2008.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was 64,000 at the start of 2007. Only 1.96 million out of 4.7 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2007.

VAT: Cambridgeshire

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses were registered for VAT in North West Cambridgeshire in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: The number of businesses registered for VAT in North West Cambridgeshire constituency between the start of 1997 and at the start of 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  North West Cambridgeshire constituency: VAT-registered business 
			   VAT-registered business at start of year 
			 1997 3,005 
			 1998 3,105 
			 1999 3,230 
			 2000 3,310 
			 2001 3,355 
			 2002 3,435 
			 2003 3,565 
			 2004 3,635 
			 2005 3,695 
			 2006 3,825 
			 2007 3,925 
			 2008 4,015 
			  Source: BERR National Statistics publication Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2007 available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index.htm 
		
	
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in North West Cambridgeshire constituency rose from 3,005 at the start of 1997 to 4,015 at the start of 2008a rise of 34 per cent., compared with an average rise of 24 per cent. across the whole of the UK.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was 64,000 at the start of 2007. Only 1.96 million out of 4.7 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2007.

VAT: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses were registered for VAT in  (a) Castle Point constituency and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: The number of businesses registered for VAT in Castle Point constituency and in Essex for the past five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  VAT-registered businesses at start of year 
			   Castle Point constituency  Essex 
			 2004 2,440 45,460 
			 2005 2,475 46,430 
			 2006 2,565 47,580 
			 2007 2,605 48,485 
			 2008 2,685 49,710 
			  Source: BERR National Statistics publication Business start-ups and closures: VAT registrations and de-registrations 2007 available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat/index. htm 
		
	
	The number of VAT-registered businesses in Castle Point constituency rose from 2,440 at the start of 2004 to 2,685 at the start of 2008a rise of 10 per cent., compared with a rise of 9 per cent. in both Essex and across the whole of the UK.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was 64,000 at the start of 2007. Only 1.96 million out of 4.7 million UK enterprises (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2007.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Shop Theft: Appeals of Sentence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals against sentences imposed in shop theft cases where the Crown Prosecution Service was the prosecuting body have been made in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: While Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records include some information about cases proceeding to appeal, it is not possible separately to identify cases of theft from shops. To obtain this information, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).
	Both the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and the Ministry of Justice have confirmed that the information is not available from their departmental records.

Mortgage Fraud

Rob Marris: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she is taking to prevent mortgage fraud.

Vera Baird: In November, the Attorney-General's new agency, the National Fraud Strategic Authority, published a national action plan to bring together the public and private sectors to tackle mortgage fraud.

Fraud: Small and Medium-sized Companies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General when she next expects to meet representatives of small business organisations to discuss measures to combat serious fraud schemes aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises.

Vera Baird: I have contact with and receive representations from small business organisations. Reducing the harm caused by fraud to individuals and businesses of all sizes is a key priority for the NFSA. The Authority will be working with private and public sector contacts to develop and deliver the National Fraud Strategy.
	The development of the National Fraud Reporting Centre will be to perceive the nature of frauds as they develop. It will put together intelligence packages that it will then distribute to try to help businesses to spot the fraud before it happens, and to disrupt it in order to ensure that people are well informed of the tactics used. The SFO investigates serious and/or complex fraud against whomever it is aimed.
	I recognise the particular need to do what we can to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the current economic climate.

Crown Prosecution Service

Rob Marris: To ask the Solicitor-General in respect of how many cases the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales  (a) advised the police,  (b) discontinued after charge but before trial and  (c) proceeded to trial in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007.

Vera Baird: The following table shows at  (a) the number of defendants in respect of whom the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advised the police or took a pre-charge decision in each of the three years in question.
	The table also shows the number of defendants prosecuted by the CPS, together with the outcome of proceedings. These cases include both those charged or summonsed by the police, and those in which a pre-charge decision to charge was made by the CPS. Case outcomes include at  (b) the number and proportion of defendants whose case was dropped by the CPS before evidence was heard by a court, including those formally discontinued in advance of a hearing. Shown at  (c) are the number and proportion which proceeded to a trial, together with the outcome of the trial. Finally, the table shows the number and proportion of defendants whose case resulted in a conviction (including guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial) and unsuccessful outcomes, representing all outcomes other than a conviction.
	
		
			  Crown Prosecution Service case outcomes data 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			   Volume  Percentage  Volume  Percentage  Volume  Percentage 
			  (a) Pre-charge decisions/Advice given 556,961   579,081   564,851   
			 Administrative finalisation(1) 40,654 3.5 29,264 2.7 22,269 2.1 
			 Discharged committal 2,705 0.2 2,400 0.2 2,255 0.2 
			
			  (b) Prosecutions dropped(2) 139,868 12.1 125,102 11.4 112,556 10.5 
			  O f which :   
			 Discontinued 41,105 3.5 40,463 3.7 37,044 3.5 
			 Indictment stayed 77 0.0 188 0.0 216 0.0 
			 Lie on file 670 0.1 589 0.1 636 0.1 
			 Offered no evidence 46,666 4.0 45,379 4.1 43,702 4.1 
			 Prosecution stayed 96 0.0 165 0.0 198 0.0 
			 Withdrawn 51,254 4.4 38,318 3.5 30,760 2.9 
			
			 Guilty pleas 712,397 61.5 699,888 63.6 711,251 66.3 
			 Proved in absence 169,270 14.6 155,473 14.1 140,756 13.1 
			
			  (c) Trials(3) 93,508 8.1 87,737 8.0 83,230 7.8 
			  O f which :   
			 Conviction after trial 64,800 5.6 58,702 5.3 55,900 5.2 
			 Acquitted 28,708 2.5 29,035 2.6 27,330 2.5 
			
			 Convictions 946,467 81.7 914,063 83.1 907,907 84.7 
			 Unsuccessful outcomes 211,935 18.3 185,801 16.9 164,410 15.3 
			 Total prosecutions 1,158,402   1,099,864   1,072,317   
			 (1 )Administrative finalisations comprise outcomes where the defendant cannot be traced, or has died, or been found unfit to plead. (2 )Prosecutions dropped are all proceedings halted before evidence is heard. (3 )Trials comprise cases where the defendant pleaded not guilty and evidence was heard by the court.

Crown Prosecution Service

Rob Marris: To ask the Solicitor-General what the average time taken by Crown Prosecution Service lawyers in England and Wales  (a) preparing a case for trial and  (b) attending at trial was in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service maintains no central record of the time committed by lawyers to the preparation of cases for trial or to trial attendance. The information is not recorded on individual case files.

Human Trafficking: Prosecutions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress the Crown Prosecution Service has made in prosecuting those engaged in human trafficking.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is working to improve the number of prosecutions, and the number of offences prosecuted under human trafficking legislation is increasing year on year. The number of prosecutions should also increase further as a result of our ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in December 2008. The Convention will assist investigations and provide support for victims of trafficking in the course of criminal proceedings.

Human Trafficking: Prosecutions

Peter Bone: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people have been prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service for offences relating to the trafficking of people into the UK for sexual exploitation since 2003.

Vera Baird: The records held at discrete offence level by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) identify the number of offences of trafficking into the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation in which a prosecution commenced, rather than the number of defendants prosecuted. During the four years for which figures are available the number of these offences was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 7 
			 2007 30 
			 2008 54

HEALTH

Arthritis: Drugs

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to take account of the effects on society and on public expenditure when evaluating treatments of rheumatoid arthritis which enable patients to continue to work or to return to work.

Dawn Primarolo: The process by which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraises drugs and treatments is a matter for the institute. NICE undertakes a wide consultation, on a regular basis, on the methods and processes in follows in health technology appraisal. The latest guidance to its methodologies was published on 23 June 2008 and details can be found on NICE's website at:
	www.nice.org.uk
	The methodology guidance NICE uses takes account of the impact of treatments on publicly-funded social care costs and, where relevant, can look at health-related benefits to carers. NICE can also conduct sensitivity analyses to expose potentially significant impacts on other areas of public spending.

Arthritis: Drugs

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of rheumatoid arthritis patients who fulfil the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence requirements for anti-TNF treatment but who do not receive anti-TNF treatment.

Dawn Primarolo: We have made no estimate of the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis meeting the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines who are not receiving anti-TNF treatment.

Blood: Contamination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs known to have been infected with HIV through contaminated blood products administered to them under NHS treatment are still alive; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of haemophiliacs known to still be alive after being infected with HIV through contaminated blood products administered to them under national health service treatment is 345. In addition, there is a very small number of women with bleeding disorders still alive who have acquired HIV through this route.

Blood: Contamination

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is planning to respond to the forthcoming report by Lord Archer on contaminated blood and blood products and to its specific recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We await Lord Archer's report with interest. We will decide whether and how the Department may need to respond when the report is available.

Cancer: Drugs

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Cancer Director to publish his evaluation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence approved cancer drug usage.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards, has undertaken his third analysis of usage of cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The findings were made available in chapter 4 of the first report of the Cancer Reform Strategy, Cancer Reform Strategy: Maintaining momentum, building for the futurefirst annual report, published on 1 December 2008. This document has already been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which primary care trusts responded to the survey of exceptional funding requests described in appendix 1 of the report to him by the National Cancer Director, Improving access to medicines for NHS patients, published on 4 November 2008; and, for each primary care trust, what the  (a) number of exceptional circumstances requests made in the last 12 months was,  (b) number of exceptional circumstances requests made for cancer treatment in the last 12 months was,  (c) proportion of all exceptional circumstances requests made in the last 12 months which were approved was and  (d) proportion of all exceptional circumstances requests made in the last 12 months for cancer treatments which were approved was;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 927-28W, on NHS: drugs, which primary care trusts responded  (a) in full and  (b) in part to the Department of Health survey on exceptional funding procedures; and if he will place in the Library copies of all responses.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 927-28W.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of suppliers his Department has paid within 10 days of invoice in the last three months.

Ben Bradshaw: In accordance with directives issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Government Departments do not measure payment performance against the dates that appear on invoices, but rather against the date on which invoices are received at the address quoted on purchase orders or similar documents. This is also in line with the requirements of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
	The Department paid 93.27 per cent. of its suppliers within 10 days of the receipt of an invoice at our nominated address during the period from 1 October 2008 to 31 December 2008.

Food: Safety

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of implementing the national Scores on the Doors scheme over the next three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The national Scores on the Doors (SotD) schemes (one for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and one for Scotland) are being established by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
	The most significant costs of implementing the SotD schemes are those of the FSA. These costs are for providing support to local authorities operating the scheme, a communications strategy, and for establishing a web-based information technology platform for disseminating scores to consumers. These costs are estimated to be between 3 million and 5.7 million over the first three years.
	Costs for local authorities and the food industry will depend on the number of local authorities that choose to implement the SotD schemes. For businesses covered, there will be a one-off cost for familiarisation which is estimated at 16 per business. For local authorities there will be time costs associated with the FSA-funded training that are estimated at 125 per officer trained. There will also be annual costs per authority of an estimated 3,000 for printing and issuing of certificates, and an estimated 600 for handling appeals. There may also be costs for re-inspection or re-visits for the purposes of re-scoring for which local authorities may charge, along with costs associated with any legal challenge.
	It is estimated that there will be an economic saving of around 12.3 million over a three year period associated with a one per cent, decrease in food-borne illness resulting from operation of the SotD schemes.

Health Education

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in developing further indicators of success in achieving the new ambition on healthy weight.

Dawn Primarolo: Progress on tackling obesity and overweight will be measured against data on Body Mass Index, included in the Health Survey for England and the National Child Measurement Programme.
	In addition, we are identifying 'proxy indicators' to assist us in monitoring national progress against the public service agreement trajectory. These will be set out in the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives annual report this spring.

Health Services: Disadvantaged

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made towards meeting the target to reduce health inequalities by 10 per cent. by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The national health inequalities public service agreement target (PSA) aims to reduce inequalities in health by 10 per cent. by 2010, as measured by infant mortality (by socio-economic group) and life expectancy at birth (by geographical area).
	Since the 1997-99 baseline the infant mortality gap has widened, and latest 2005-07 data show the infant mortality rate among the Routine and Manual group was 16 per cent. higher than in the total population. However, the gap has narrowed in recent years and if the rate observed since 2002-04 continues, the infant mortality element of target will be met.
	Life expectancy in England and in the Spearhead Group (the 70 local authority areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators, and the 62 primary care trusts mapping to them, and a focus of action for this element of the target) is at record levels. If the rest of England still had the life expectancy it had in 1995-97 (the target baseline), Spearhead areas would not just have narrowed the gap by 10 per cent., they would have closed it completely. However, the increase in Spearhead areas is not as great as in non-Spearheads so the gap has not narrowed. The latest 2005-07 data show that the percentage gap in life expectancy between the Spearhead Group and the England average has increased to 4 per cent. above baseline for men and 11 per cent. above baseline for women (the target is a 10 per cent. narrowing for both).
	The health inequalities target was deliberately set to be ambitious. Some progress has been made. However, we acknowledge that more remains to be done. Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps (June 2008), a copy has already been placed in the Library, reaffirmed our commitment to tackling inequalities, and meeting this PSA target. Our focus now is to provide tailored, intensive, support to the Spearhead areas, and areas with high infant mortality, including:
	an additional 34 million in spending for inequalities programmes in 2008-09;
	investing more in the National Support Team for health inequalities to reach all Spearheads by summer 2009, enhancing the National Support Team for Tobacco Control, and establishing new National Support Teams for Alcohol and Infant Mortality; and
	support to local partners for planning and commissioning of services through the Health Inequalities Intervention Tool.

Influenza: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) people aged over 65,  (b) people in other at risk groups,  (c) health care workers and  (d) poultry workers who received the seasonal influenza immunisation in each of the last five winters.

Dawn Primarolo: Flu vaccination data are in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   People aged 65 and over  People in clinical at-risk groups  Health care workers  Poultry workers 
			 2007-08 74 45 13.4 14.2 
			 2006-07 74 42 14 13.4 
			 2005-06 75 48 19.4 (1) 
			 2004-05 71 40 15.4 (1) 
			 2003-04 71 (1) 14.8 (1) 
			 (1) Those years when data was not collected or policy was not in place. 
		
	
	England has one of the best uptake rates of the flu jab in Europe for those aged 65 and over.
	This year the Department has reminded health professionals of the importance of protecting younger patients in other risk groups and we will look carefully at the results when final vaccine uptake data for 2008-09 is available.
	In 2008 research was carried out with adults in at-risk groups. It identified that there are a number of challenges to improving vaccine uptake in younger at-risk groups and that because the use of the term 'flu' and 'cold' had become almost interchangeable, flu was not regarded as a serious concern.
	The Department is planning to introduce a new flu vaccination advertising campaign for the 2009-10 flu season. One of the aims of the new advertising approach is to improve targeting of the message to people aged under 65 with long-term conditions, while maintaining uptake rates among those aged 65 and over. These research findings are being fed into the development of the new campaign.
	Uptake among health care workers is low in most developed countries and this is a concern that is not specific to the UK. To address low uptake in health care workers, the Department held a flu conference in June 2008 for flu leads working in PCTs and also in occupational health. The conference focused on sharing ideas for improving vaccine uptake among health professionals.
	We also launched a new flu vaccine leaflet for health care workers and are currently working on a communications strategy that will provide support to occupational health departments in delivering all occupational health vaccinations, because immunising health care workers with the flu vaccine is the responsibility of the employer.
	The poultry workers programme has a slightly different focus to the other seasonal flu programmes. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of a poultry worker being exposed to an avian flu virus at the same time as they were infected with seasonal flu virus. It is theoretically possible that the two viruses could mix to produce a new strain of flu virus which could possibly lead to a pandemic. This programme is primarily aimed at reducing the risk of a pandemic virus emerging in this country.

Local Area Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in meeting the targets set by local area agreements to which Ministers in his Department have subscribed; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: 150 local area agreements (LAAs) covering priorities in every locality in England from 2008-09 to 2010-11 were agreed in June 2008. It is too early to make an assessment of progress against targets in the LAAs but Government offices for the regions will take stock of emerging findings early in 2009. From April 2009, the comprehensive area assessment (CAA) will bring together assessments of performance across each local area and these may apply to anything done by local authorities acting alone or in partnership. It will place particular emphasis on delivery against identified LAA priorities for the local area. The first findings under CAA are likely to be reported in autumn 2009. Data which is used to measure the performance of different places with respect to key Government targets will be available at:
	http://www.fti.communities.gov.uk/fti/Welcome.aspx
	Individual targets were monitored by Government offices for the regions and strategic health authorities but no comprehensive assessment was made against the health targets in the previous rounds of LAAs in place since 2005-06. To do an assessment of the thousands of health-related targets in these LAAs would involve a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill 1999-2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what files his Department holds on the Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill of Session 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department holds one file in respect of the Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill of the 1999-2000 session. The file is entitled Withdrawing and Withholding Medical Treatment; Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill and extends to four volumes.

Mental Health Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made in the development of a public mental health framework for creating well-being; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: We expect to publish a public mental health framework early in 2009. The framework is intended to provide health care commissioners, providers and a wider cross-governmental audience with evidence-based advice on promoting good mental health and well-being.

Mental Health Services: Young People

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government's undertaking that by November 2008 no child under the age of 16 years would be treated on an adult psychiatric ward has been met.

Ann Keen: The latest available figures, for July to September 2008, show children and young people under 16 spent only four bed days on adult psychiatric wards, the lowest level since collection started in 2005. This supercedes the figure given in reply to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 528W, when I regret as a result of data error, five bed days were originally reported for this quarter.
	Figures for October to December 2008 will not be available until February 2009.

MMR Vaccine

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to increase the effectiveness of the MMR vaccination catch-up programme.

Dawn Primarolo: Since we launched the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination catch-up programme in August 2008, we have provided extra funding to primary care trusts (PCTs), sourced additional supplies of vaccine and provided extra technical support to general practitioners to help them identify children who have not received the MMR vaccine.
	We also held a meeting of PCT immunisation co-ordinators to emphasise the importance of reducing measles cases through improving vaccination uptake.
	A public relations campaign is planned to be implemented and rolled out shortly. Key messages will include how serious and infectious measles is and how it is never too late to have the MMR vaccine. A measles leaflet is already available which can be viewed and downloaded from:
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/MMR/Resources/MMR_catchup_programme
	A copy of the leaflet has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Public Participation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake an investigation of the public interest implications of local authorities withholding money for administrative purposes from LINKs budgets.

Ann Keen: We have no plans to do so.
	In line with wider Government policy to encourage greater local accountability, funding to support the establishment and operation of local involvement networks (LINks) has been given to local authorities as part of the annual area based grant. Local authorities with social services responsibilities are under a duty (set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, 2007) to make arrangements for the activities of LINks to be carried on in their area. It is for each local authority to decide how to use the allocated funding to fulfil this duty.

Personal Health Budgets

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding streams he plans to include in the personal health budgets due to be piloted from 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The focus of the pilots will be the use of national health service funds.
	Where appropriate, we hope personal health budgets will align with personal budgets for those eligible for social care so that the budget appears as seamless as possible to the individual using health and social care services, and to support a holistic approach to the planning of care and support. One of the goals of piloting personal health budgets is to understand how this could work and we hope local authorities and primary care trusts will work closely together on this issue.
	The Government will shortly be launching the personal health budget programme formally, seeking expressions of interest in the pilots and local proposals for how personal budgets could work.

Shingles

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of treating shingles and post herpetic neuralgia in people over 50 years of age in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is currently in the process of estimating the cost of treating shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) within the wider context of the benefits of shingles vaccination, including whether a vaccination programme would be cost effective. It will provide advice in due course.

Sunscreens: VAT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Treasury on the effects on the level of use of sun protection products for  (a) children and  (b) adults of the rate of value added tax charged on such products;
	(2)  what guidance his Department issues to  (a) parents in respect of their children and  (b) adults on the use of sun protection lotions; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep taxes under review and introduce reduced VAT rates only where they offer the best targeted and most cost-effective support for its objectives. The Government also work in partnership with Cancer Research UK, which runs SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign, on behalf of the UK Health Departments. The campaign aims to raise awareness and provide information on the risks to health related to ultraviolet radiation exposure.
	To enjoy the sun safely, the SunSmart code recommends:
	S pend time in the shade between 11 and 3;
	M ake sure you never burn;
	A im to cover up with a hat, t-shirt and sunglasses;
	R emember to take extra care with children; and
	T hen use factor 15+ sunscreen or higher.
	Further information about sunscreen advice is available on the Cancer Research UK website at:
	http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/sunsmart/staysafe/sunscreen/

Tobacco: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on making the purchase of cigarettes under age a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We published a report on the Consultation on the future of tobacco control on 9 December last year. A copy has already been placed in the Library. This summarised responses, and noted that some respondents suggested there should be new offences for those underage who try to buy tobacco, or who smoke in public.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the two major projects on child maintenance debt referred to by the Comptroller and Auditor General in July 2008 have now been completed; what their main findings were; and if he will place in the Library copies of each project.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 9 December 2008
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have therefore asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty;
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the two major projects on child maintenance debt referred to by the Comptroller and Auditor General in July 2008 have now been completed; what their main findings were; and if he will place in the Library copies of each project.
	In response to the annual audit of its client funds accounts the Child Support Agency commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to lead two reviews of how the Agency reported child maintenance debt in its Annual Report and Accounts. The first review concerned the accuracy of the reported debt balance and the associated receipts and payments. The second review concerned the collectability of the child maintenance debt balance as reported in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, which is now responsible for the Child Support Agency has yet to receive the final reports. The Commission expects to be in a position to make the outcome of these reports available in the first quarter of the New Year.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Habitual Residence Test

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many British citizens did not pass the habitual residency test in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 December 2008
	In the 12 months to the end of November 2008, 2,948 habitual residence tests were failed by British nationals.
	 Note:
	Data based on clerical inputs and therefore subject to input error.
	 Source:
	DWP Management information.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) fixed-term and  (b) casual temporary staff Jobcentre Plus employs.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many (a) fixed term temporary staff and (b) casual temporary staff Jobcentre Plus employs. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As at November 2008 Jobcentre Plus employed 1443 full time equivalent fixed term staff and 1336 full time equivalent casual temporary staff. The Office of National Statistics criteria define those staff on a fixed term contract of less than 12 months as temporary and those on a contract over 12 months as permanent. Therefore, of the 1443 fixed term appointments, 1108 are defined as temporary and 335 as permanent.

Jobcentre Plus: Overtime

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Job Centre Plus has spent on staff overtime payments  (a) in each of the last three financial years and  (b) in 2008-09 to date.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive, Mel Groves. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how much Jobcentre Plus has spent on staff overtime payments in each of the last three financial years and in 2008-09 to date. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The details of expenditure on staff overtime payments for the requested years are set out below:
	
		
			  Period  Amount ( million) 
			 2005-06 26.4 
			 2006-07 32.9 
			 2007-08 31.6 
			 2008-09 21.8 
			  Note: 2008-09 covers period from 1 April 2008 to 30 November 2008  Source: DWP financial system

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where each call centre used to answer telephone calls from members of the public to Jobcentre Plus helplines is located; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking where each call centre used to answer telephone calls from members of the public to Jobcentre Plus helplines is located; and if he will make a statement. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has 31 Contact Centres which are used to answer telephone calls from members of the public. They are at the following locations:
	Annesley
	Bangor
	Blackburn
	Bootle
	Bridgend
	Caerphilly
	Clydebank
	Coventry
	Derby
	Dundee
	Exeter
	Garston
	Grimsby Crown House
	Grimsby Europark
	Halifax
	Lincoln
	Liverpool
	Lowestoft
	Marton Mere
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle
	Paisley
	Pembroke Dock
	Poole
	Preston
	Sheffield
	Southend
	Taunton
	Telford Newtown House
	Telford Plaza
	Torquay.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what performance targets have been set to measure the quality of service given to members of the public calling Jobcentre Plus helplines; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what performance targets have been set to measure the quality of service given to members of the public calling Jobcentre Plus helplines; and if he will make a statement. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Contact Centres are measured against a range of internal performance indicators which support and underpin the Jobcentre Plus targets. All Contact Centre Customer Service Agents have key work objectives which are put in place to support, contribute and feed into the achievement of the following six national Jobcentre Plus targets:
	Job Outcome TargetThis is the measure of our success in helping people in to work. It is based on an automated reporting system, which reports movements into work and off benefit by matching Jobcentre Plus and HMRC data.
	Customer Service TargetThis measures Jobcentre Plus' performance in meeting the standards and commitments set out in the organisation's customer and employer charters.
	Monetary Value of Fraud and ErrorContact Centre Directorate has a direct impact on this target by taking appropriate action when fraud is suspected during interaction with the customer and more specifically through the referrals that are generated from calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline.
	Average Actual Clearance TimesThis is measured through the processing of claims within specified average actual clearance times, for Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance18 days, 11 days and 12 days respectively.
	Employer Engagement TargetThis is measured by mystery shopper calls made by an independent organisation and is a measure for professionalism and information provided over the phone.
	Interventions Delivery TargetThis is a measure of the efficiency of Jobcentre Plus in booking customers in for work-focused interviews within set timescales to provide effective employment support and advice.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the policy of Jobcentre Plus is on the use of recorded messages on helplines used by members of the public.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking, what the policy of Jobcentre Plus is on the use of recorded messages on helplines used by members of the public. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has standard messages on all its 0845 and 0800 numbers that conform to recognised business telecom practices. This ensures that messages are coherent and that there is consistency in greeting which includes information to customers concerning call costs and why calls are monitored and recorded, whilst taking into account customers with accessibility and diversity needs. Messages are kept as short as possible, while ensuring customers are directed to the most suitable source of help for their needs.

Jobcentre Plus: Temporary Employment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to Jobcentre Plus of employing  (a) fixed term temporary staff and  (b) casual staff was (i) in each of the last three financial years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive, Mel Groves. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the cost to Jobcentre Plus of employing fixed term staff and casual staff in each of the last three financial years and in 2008-09 to date. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Details of fixed term temporary staff are not separately identifiable in the accounts. However, I am able to provide details of expenditure on employing casual/temporary staff for the requested years as follows:
	
		
			  Period   million 
			 2005-06 45.8 
			 2006-07 26.4 
			 2007-08 19.8 
			 2008-09 16.9 
			  Note: 2008-09 covers period from 1 April 2008 to 30 November 2008  Source: DWP financial system

Jobseeker's Allowance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) North Yorkshire and  (b) England claimed jobseeker's allowance in each year since it was introduced.

Tony McNulty: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Jobseeker's allowance claimants in North Yorkshire and England 
			  As at November each year  England  North Yorkshire 
			 1996 1,528,620 11,990 
			 1997 1,120,390 8,865 
			 1998 1,030,330 8,070 
			 1999 924,785 7,220 
			 2000 800,200 6,105 
			 2001 740,795 5,650 
			 2002 730,620 5,030 
			 2003 715,290 4,955 
			 2004 651,320 4,240 
			 2005 722,685 4,780 
			 2006 771,165 5,350 
			 2007 657,270 4,690 
			 2008 878,045 6,430 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Data are published at https://www.nomisweb.co.uk 3. Jobseeker's allowance replaced unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people on 7 October 1996. 4. Figures exclude clerical cases.  Source: 100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of jobseeker's allowance have had that allowance withdrawn following a failure to meet the conditions attached to receipt of the allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by category.

Tony McNulty: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of individuals with jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions/disallowances in Great Britain 
			   2007  2008 
			   Aug  Sep t  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul 
			 Total 23,100 19,910 22,750 23,260 14,710 23,500 24,730 21,320 25,430 25,910 27,920 31,380 
			 Varied sanctions discharge from HM forces 
			 Varied sanctionsleaving employment voluntarily 3,740 3,300 3,920 3,710 2,820 4,100 3,680 3,400 3,770' 3,890 3,760 3,820 
			 Varied sanctionslost employment through misconduct 800 730 720 800 580 970 1,060 880 1,010 1,040 950 940 
			 Varied sanctionsNTA of an opportunity of employment 
			 Varied sanctionsrefusal of employment 730 700 850 1,050 820 1,060 990 860 1,080 1,070 1,190 1,360 
			 Fixed Sanctiongiving up place on training scheme/emp prog 240 190 220 190 150 200 220 170 210 210 240 280 
			 Fixed Sanctionlosing place on place on training scheme/emp prog due to misconduct 600 510 610 560 420 600 660 650 800 790 970 1,100 
			 Fixed Sanctionrefusal of place on training scheme/emp prog 10 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 40 
			 Fixed SanctionNTA of place on training scheme/emp prog 30 20 20 20 20 30 20 20 30 30 30 20 
			 Fixed SanctionFTA place on training scheme/emp prog 1,760 1,430 1,470 1,530 1,130 1,560 1,690 1,450 1,710 1,690 1,950 2,250 
			 Fixed SanctionRefusal to carry out a JS direction 270 210 280 230 180 200 220 210 210 240 270 320 
			 EntitlementActively seeking employment 2,970 2,640 3,380 3,690 1,890 2,860 3,700 3,160 3,460 3,230 3,780 4,440 
			 EntitlementAvailability questions 540 540 530 490 310 400 440 330 430 440 560 690 
			 EntitlementFTA Advisory interview/Failure to produce signed declaration 11,390 9,620 10,690 10,930 6,330 11,490 12,000 10,140 12,690 13,230 14,180 16,080 
			 EntitlementJSAg questions 20 20 30 30 30 10 30 30 20 30 20 30 
			 EntitlementTrade disputes 
			 EntitlementJoint Claim exemption 10  10 10   10 10 
			 Definitions: NTANeglected to avail themselves FTAFailed to attend JSAgJobseeker's agreement Notes: 1. Individuals and decisions based figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. The most recent adverse sanction is shown for each individual. 3. Figures include all individuals who have had all or just part of their JSA payments sanctioned or withdrawn. 4. Varied length sanctions are sanctions of between one week and 26 weeks imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the decision. 5. Fixed length sanctions are sanctions of two weeks (four weeks if repeated within 12 months, and 26 weeks if already received a four week sanction within last 12 months) imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer's decision on a sanction question. 6. Entitlement sanctions apply to questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the Jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Jobseeker's Allowance Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his Department's projections of the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants are for each month of the next three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's latest projections are for  (a) unemployment and  (b) claimant count in each month in each of the next three years, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by the lowest possible geographical area for which projections are available.

Tony McNulty: The Government do not publish forecasts of unemployment, on either an ILO or jobseeker's allowance claimant count basis, but the jobseeker's allowance expenditure forecast is based on the planning assumption published by HM Treasury in the pre-Budget report.
	 Notes:
	1. The figures quoted in the pre-Budget report are seasonally adjusted UK Claimant unemployment. This is a cautious assumption based on the average of external forecasts and is not the Treasury's economic forecast.
	2. The pre-Budget report 2008 assumption can also be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr08_annexb_262.pdf
	(p188. Table B1).
	3. The planning assumption is used for budgetary planning at a national level, and is not disaggregated into sub-national areas.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions  (a) how much was spent on working-age recipients of jobseeker's allowance and  (b) income support in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested can be found in the annual Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Reports since 2004, copies of which are available in the Library.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many unprocessed jobseeker's allowance claims there were in each of the last six months, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district; what the average claim processing time was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many unprocessed Jobseeker's Allowance claims there were in each of the last six months, broken down by region and Jobcentre Plus district and what the average claim processing time was in each case. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus calculates the number of unprocessed Jobseeker's Allowance claims on a monthly basis by carrying out a count across the benefit processing system on the last working day of the month. On any given day a small number of claims will be in transit between offices, so the count will slightly understate the total number of unprocessed claims.
	The target for Jobseeker's Allowance Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) is 11.5 days. This is calculated from the customer's initial date of contact to the date a decision is made on their claim. Our benefit processing system calculates the AACT by taking each claim's clearance time using the dates as described and calculates an average across the volume of claims processed.
	A copy of the latest available information has been placed in the Library. Data is available to Benefit Delivery Centre level and I have also given a national figure. This data has not been available by Jobcentre Plus district level since April 2006.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) took action  (a) against insurance companies who failed to report settlement of personal injury claims to the CRU and  (b) to recover benefits from insurance companies in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007;
	(2)  in how many personal injury cases the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) identified that insurance companies had failed to report settlement of a claim to the CRU in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007;
	(3)  what steps the Compensation Recovery Unit has taken to ensure that insurance companies report promptly all personal injury claims which are settled  (a) out of court,  (b) in court by negotiation and  (c) by judgment.

Kitty Ussher: The Compensation Recovery Unit have not identified any cases where insurance companies failed to report settlement of a claim. The Social Security Administration Act 1992 Section 110, gives DWP inspectors the right to examine the records of compensators and employers to verify that they are complying fully with the provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. We work closely with the Association of British Insurers and other insurance associations and we scrutinise claims. There has been nothing to date to indicate enforcement action is required on compliance, although we continue to monitor the position.

Post Office Card Account: Contracts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of reimbursing participants in the Post Office Card Account tendering process for their reasonable bid costs.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) on 10 December 2008,  Official Report, column 105W.

Poverty: Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) evaluated on the number of cancer patients in poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not available.
	Our poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, do not allow for a breakdown by illness type. Information is therefore not available for the number of cancer patients living in low income.

Poverty: Children

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of disabled children living below the poverty line in  (a) the UK,  (b) Wales,  (c) Scotland and  (d) England in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The available information is shown in the following table.
	Figures for Scotland and Wales are not available due to sample size volatility, while data for the United Kingdom are only available from 2002-03. Figures for Great Britain are available for earlier years and have been provided.
	
		
			  Number (million) of disabled children living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income (Before housing costs) 
			   England  GB  UK 
			 1997-98 0.2 0.3 n/a 
			 1998-99 0.2 0.2 n/a 
			 1999-2000 0.2 0.2 n/a 
			 2000-01 0.1 0.2 n/a 
			 2001-02 0.1 0.2 n/a 
			 2002-03 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 2003-04 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 2004-05 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 2005-06 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 2006-07 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			  n/a = Not available.  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income data which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey. 2. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for households below average Income figures is single financial years. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. Median incomes are used as the national average in the publication. 5. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors. 6. Figures have been presented on a before housing costs basis. For before housing costs, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 7. Numbers of disabled children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 children. 8. The disability definition up to 2001-02 defines disability as having a long-term illness, disability or infirmity that limits the activity of the individual in some way. This definition changed from 2002-03 to be more in line with the Disability Discrimination Act's definition of disability which defines disability as having a long-term illness, disability or infirmity that leads to a significant difficulty with one or more areas of the individual's life. The change in the definition has only a very minor impact on the statistics.  Source:  Households Below Average Income.

Redundancy: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice, support and assistance he is providing to people in Essex who are facing redundancy.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what advice, support and assistance he is providing to people in Essex who are facing redundancy. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	We offer a wide range of support for people facing redundancy. This includes helping support employers to retain their staff through retraining; and encouraging staff to gain vocational qualifications to prepare for the economic recovery rather than having to make staff redundant. We work with partners such as Business Link (who have reduced many of their fees for Small and Medium Enterprises) and directing employers to Train to Gain for a business check-up and funding for training.
	We also offer advice on how employees can claim benefits and support employers where they need to go into short time or temporary stop working and we are tailoring our advice to meet the their needs. We will also visit employees facing redundancy at their place of work to explain the support and benefits available to them. Employees can also access the vacancies we hold nationally by visiting our website at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or by telephoning us on 0845 6060 234 and by using the jobpoints at their local Jobcentre.
	A strengthened Rapid Response Service was launched on 12 November, doubling national funding from 3 million to 6 million. The service is being promoted through relevant press and online. The pre-Budget report announced a further doubling of Rapid Response Service funding12 million will be available in 2009-10.
	Through the Rapid Response Service, Jobcentre Plus has access to funds to enable those individuals made redundant to receive the necessary help to get them back into work. Such measures could include:
	Skills Transfer Analysis (to help identify an individual's transferable skills and training needs relevant to the local labour market);
	Job-Focussed Training (to assist individuals with appropriate training and certification linked to employment or self-employment linked to the needs of the local labour market).
	We work with partners such as Response to Redundancy who have access to funding via the East of England Development Agency to assist employees with re-training and CV writing. We can also arrange for a Business Link representative to advise staff on self-employment.
	We have recently decided that our customers in Essex can have access to CV writing, Jobsearch advice and support through our Programme Centres immediately rather than waiting six months. We have also produced a leaflet for employers and partner organisations such as Business Link and local authority Economic Development Officers to ensure they are aware of the support we can provide.
	In November we contacted 13 businesses to offer our assistance and support following notification of possible redundancies. Eleven accepted our assistance while two had already made provision for their staff to be redeployed within their own companies. Our staff visited and talked to five of these businesses and we sent copies of our Job Kits to the remaining six companies. Our Job Kit provides practical help and advice to employees when applying for jobs. We also issue employees with a leaflet that describes how to claim benefits, find work and re-train.
	I have asked Neil Brettell, the District Manager for Essex, to meet with you to discuss the range of provision available in the Essex area.

Redundancy: Woolworths

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department plans to provide to the Woolworth's workforce; and if he will take steps to ensure that Woolworth's observes its statutory obligations with regard to its workforce.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assistance his Department plans to provide to the Woolworths workforce; and if he will take steps to ensure that Woolworths observes its statutory obligations with regard to its workforce. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	When Woolworths went into administration Jobcentre Plus made contact immediately with the administrators and Woolworths management to prepare the Rapid Response Service support for any redundancies.
	The key components of the Rapid Response Service are Skills Transfer Analysis, Job-Focused Training and the Action Fund. Jobcentre Plus will embark upon a Skills Transfer Analysis with former Woolworths employees to identify those with transferable skills and training needs relevant to their own local labour market. Where necessary, Job-Focused Training will be put in place for those requiring training or certification. Finally, should an individual have a personal barrier preventing them from taking up employment or training the Action Fund will be used to overcome that.
	Jobcentre Plus has also ensured that each and every Woolworths employee will receive appropriate literature within their personal redundancy pack. This literature will provide advice on navigating the benefits system and introduce the various Jobcentre Plus services that will enable them to find alternative employment.

Social Security Benefits

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of processing  (a) jobseeker's allowance and  (b) income support was in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what the cost of processing (a) Jobseeker's Allowance and (b) Income Support benefits was in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Information on the staff costs of processing new claims for each benefit is provided in the table below.
	
		
			   million 
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			 Jobseekers Allowance new claims 45.6 44.5 
			 Income Support new claims 46.5 42.5 
			  Source:  Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management systems.

Social Security Benefits: Administration

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been allocated to cover the costs of processing applications for each benefit that the Department administers in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Department's published three year plan is available in the Library and sets out the planned expenditure of Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service over the CSR2007. The Pre-Budget Report announced additional funding for the Department over the CSR2007 to continue delivering effective support for the unemployed to find a job. The Department will publish a revised plan before the end of the current financial year providing further details of its plans, which will include planned Jobcentre Plus and Pension, Disability and Carers Service expenditure.

Social Security Benefits: Administration

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost to his Department is of processing a benefit application for each benefit that his Department administers; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Information on the staff costs of processing a new claim for each benefit in 2007-8 is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			
			 Income Support Claims only 52.91 
			 Jobseekers Allowance Claims only 21.00 
			 Incapacity Benefit Claims only 43.84 
			 Bereavement Benefit Claims Only 101.70 
			 Maternity Allowance Claims Only 26.09 
			 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Claims Only 60.22 
			 (Claims only include Telephony element)  
			  Source:  Jobcentre Plus ABM systems 
		
	
	
		
			
			 Attendance Allowance Claims 38.12 
			 Disability Allowance Claims 83.46 
			 Carers Allowance Claims 33.45 
			 State Pension Claims 49.03 
			 Pension Credit Claims 123.42 
			  Source:  Pensions, Disability and Carers Service ABM systems.

Social Security Benefits: Databases

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether benefit payment systems are able to record total benefits received by  (a) individuals and  (b) households.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has a number of systems which are used in the administration of the various benefits for which it is responsible. Where appropriate, officials can establish which benefits are paid to an individual or their dependants and at what rate. However, information is not recorded by household.
	Additionally, housing benefit and council tax benefit are administered by over 400 local authorities, each of which is responsible for its own systems. Arrangements are in place that allow officials to establish the amount of local authority administered benefits in payment to an individual where there is a legitimate reason to do so.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the amount lost by his Department as a result of  (a) benefit fraud and  (b) administrative error in Torbay constituency in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available in the format requested.
	DWP Fraud and Error estimates, published in the Fraud and Error in the Benefit System series, provide fraud and error estimates at a national level. The estimates are derived from the examination of a sample of benefit payments. The sample sizes are too small to produce valid estimates below the national level. Estimates are therefore not available at constituency level.

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work-focused interviews for each category of benefit he estimates will be conducted in each of the next five years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008,  Official Report, column 420W, on social security benefits: overseas residence, how many of the 1,700 requests for payment of  (a) the core component of disability living allowance,  (b) attendance allowance and  (c) carer's allowance from those who had previously lived in the UK and are now living in another EEA state or Switzerland have been granted.

Jonathan R Shaw: As explained in my written answer of 15 December 2008,  Official Report, column 420W, we are still considering the implications of the European Court's decision on paying disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carer's allowance to people who claim from another EEA state or Switzerland. We will publish the entitlement criteria on the Directgov website as soon as the details have been finalised. As a result, we are not yet in a position to make decisions on individual awards for these customers.

Social Services: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which funding streams he plans to include in the individual budget pilots due to be tested in trailblazer public authorities from 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Welfare Reform Bill introduced on 14 January 2009 sets out the framework for a new legislative right for disabled people. The Bill enables the Secretary of State to make regulations to give disabled people greater choice and control over support provided by the state. This will be referred to as the right to control.
	The right to control will be tested in a small number of trailblazing public authorities in England from 2010.
	We will consult on how Department of Work and Pensions funding, particularly Access to Work, the Independent Living Fund and elements of our specialist disability employment programmes, could be included in the trailblazers. The inclusion or alignment of further Government services, including the Disabled Facilities Grant and Adult Social Care, will be considered during this phase.
	We will also consult locally and nationally ahead of the trailblazers to investigate which other sources of support could be included. The services and funding streams to be included in the pilots will be set out in secondary legislation.

Unemployment: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of all benefit claimants have been out of work for more than 10 years in  (a) each of the principal seaside towns of England and Wales and  (b) each lower layer super output area (LSOA) of the seaside towns of England and Wales, giving each LSOA area.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available.

Unemployment: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are unemployed in  (a) the North East and  (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency; and what estimate his Department has made of projected trends in these levels in each of the next 12 months.

Tony McNulty: In November 2008 there were 61,815 jobseeker's allowance claimants in the north-east Government office region and 2,185 in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency.
	 Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Data are published at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	 Source
	100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems.
	While we do not predict future levels of unemployment, we are planning for the impact of higher levels of jobseeker's allowance claims in the coming months. Clearly this is a sensible approach given the expected trends during a time of slower economic growth.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) individuals and  (b) establishments have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age people in (i) Stockport Metropolitan borough, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) the North West in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons and other defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons in the Greater Manchester police force area and the North West region, from 2003 to 2007, the latest available, are given in table 1. The number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued to persons for this offence are given in table 2 from 2004, when the scheme commenced, to 2007.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Data collected centrally are available at police force area level only; therefore data for Stockport Metropolitan borough cannot be supplied.
	
		
			  Table 1: The number of persons and the number of other defendants( 1)  proceeded against at magistrates' courts for( ) offences relating to selling alcohol to under age persons( 2 ) in the Greater Manchester Police Force Area and the North West Region( 3) , 2003-07( 4,5,6) 
			   Greater Manchester Police force Area  North West Region 
			   Proceeded against  Proceeded against 
			   Persons  Other  Persons  Other 
			 2003 125 4 205 6 
			 2004 179 1 241 1 
			 2005 117  238  
			 2006 159 1 232 1 
			 2007 35  97  
			 1 Figures for Other includes: Public bodies, companies, organisations 2 Data includes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Holder of occasional permission or his agent knowingly selling to, knowingly allow consumption by or allowing any person to sell, intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(1). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(1). Sale of alcohol to a person under 18 Licensing Act 2003 S.146(l) Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964 Sec 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988 Sec 17. Allow sale of alcohol to an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 Sec 147(1)  (5) 3 Includes, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside police force areas. 4 These data are on the principal offence basis. 5 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 6 The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) issued to persons for sale of alcohol to persons under 18 in the Greater Manchester Police Force Area and the North West Region( 1) , 2004( 2)  to 2007( 3) . 
			   Greater Manchester Police Force Area  North West Region 
			 2004  32 
			 2005 127 462 
			 2006 211 615 
			 2007 141 572 
			 (1) Includes, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside police force areas. (2) Commencement of the PND scheme. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit.

Borders: Personal Records

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the e-borders programme to be fully operational.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 14 January 2009
	The e-Borders programme is being rolled out in phases.
	By December 2010, the e-Borders system will be receiving and processing at least 95 per cent. of passenger and crew movements in advance of travel into the UK. The system will be fully operational, processing 100 per cent. of passenger and crew movements, by March 2014.

Crime: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of  (a) vehicle theft,  (b) domestic burglary and  (c) violent crime there were in each police force area in Wales in each of the last 17 years, broken down by sub-category of crime.

Alan Campbell: The available information relates to offences recorded by the police and data is given in the tables for 1998-99 to 2007-08. A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and we now provide figures for violence against the person.
	In 1998-99, the recorded crime coverage was extended and substantial revisions were made to the counting rules. Figures prior to that date are therefore not directly comparable and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Selected offences recorded by the police in Wales ,  1998-99 to 2001-02 
			  Number of offences 
			  Year and police force area  Theft of a vehicle  Aggravated vehicle taking  Theft from a vehicle  Interfering with a motor vehicle  Total offences against vehicles  Burglary in a dwelling  Aggravated burglary in a dwelling  Total burglary in a dwelling  Most serious violence  Other violence  Total violence against the person 
			  1998-99
			 Dyfed-Powys 854 129 1,497 91 2,571 965 8 973 120 4,560 4,680 
			 Gwent 3,457 144 6,145 419 10,165 3,347 30 3,377 275 11,080 11,355 
			 North Wales 1,934 182 5,138 340 7,594 2,431 18 2,449 112 4,591 4,703 
			 South Wales 17,955 616 18,110 121 36,802 9,170 69 9,239 739 10,622 11,361 
			 
			  1999- 20 00
			 Dyfed-Powys 759 109 1,335 261 2,464 686 10 696 109 5,410 5,519 
			 Gwent 3,250 143 5,714 501 9,608 3,127 21 3,148 286 13,488 13,774 
			 North Wales 2,175 135 5,191 375 7,876 2,201 18 2,219 118 5,621 5,739 
			 South Wales 15,246 604 17,203 1,317 34,370 8,315 68 8,383 891 11,999 12,890 
			 
			  2000-01
			 Dyfed-Powys 584 88 897 147 1,716 550 11 561 64 4,130 4194 
			 Gwent 2,934 140 5,033 484 8,591 2,557 16 2,573 294 13,896 14190 
			 North Wales 1,734 152 5,278 603 7,767 2,118 17 2,135 97 5,222 5319 
			 South Wales 11,491 575 14,249 963 27,278 6,626 59 6,685 824 12,411 13235 
			 
			  2001-02
			 Dyfed-Powys 735 106 1,209 165 2,215 713 1 714 98 5,418 5516 
			 Gwent 2,474 136 4,406 674 7,690 2,540 20 2,560 291 8,893 9184 
			 North Wales 1,769 180 5,712 646 8,307 2,387 20 2,407 139 7,210 7349 
			 South Wales 10,918 639 14,324 996 26,877 6,789 56 6,845 912 13,496 14408 
			  Note: The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 :  Selected offences recorded by the police in Wales ,  2002 - 03 to 2007 - 08 
			  Number of offences 
			  Year and police force area  Theft of a vehicle  Aggravated vehicle taking  Theft from a vehicle  Interfering with a motor vehicle  Total offences against vehicles  Burglary in a dwelling  Aggravated burglary in a dwelling  Total burglary in a dwelling  Most serious violence  Other violence  Total violence against the person 
			  2002-03
			 Dyfed-Powys 720 113 1,195 209 2,237 660 6 666 101 6,116 6,217 
			 Gwent 2,878 168 5,286 1,212 9,544 2,981 20 3,001 406 14,613 15,019 
			 North Wales 1,885 202 6,006 974 9,067 3,201 26 3,227 177 11,295 11,472 
			 South Wales 11,150 694 18,579 3,279 33,702 8,019 41 8,060 1,157 19,269 20,426 
			 
			  2003-04
			 Dyfed-Powys 676 119 1,530 179 2,504 934 10 944 76 7,833 7,909 
			 Gwent 3,336 171 5,416 1,520 10,443 3,178 21 3,199 348 12,583 12,931 
			 North Wales 1,848 190 5,575 900 8,513 2,450 34 2,484 146 10,833 10,979 
			 South Wales 9,212 581 17,289 4,001 31,083 7,220 55 7,275 1,122 20,073 21,195 
			 
			  2004-05
			 Dyfed-Powys 620 107 1,604 132 2,463 1,036 6 1,042 90 8,225 8,315 
			 Gwent 3,013 176 5,394 1,483 10,066 2,565 18 2,583 396 12,496 12,892 
			 North Wales 1,521 219 3,609 830 6,179 1,559 26 1,585 197 11,824 12,021 
			 South Wales 6,838 498 15,456 3,187 25,979 6,431 46 6,477 1,079 19,028 20,107 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Dyfed-Powys 506 113 1,250 148 2,017 797 4 801 134 7,577 7,711 
			 Gwent 2,511 183 5,656 1,233 9,583 2,157 20 2,177 452 11,051 11,503 
			 North Wales 1,359 127 2,671 471 4,628 1,271 14 1,285 220 12,110 12,330 
			 South Wales 6,339 557 16,538 3,156 26,590 5,699 48 5,747 932 20,116 21,048 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Dyfed-Powys 493 95 1,417 188 2,193 765 5 770 118 7,576 7,694 
			 Gwent 2,433 200 4,972 932 8,537 2,196 20 2,216 423 11,294 11,717 
			 North Wales 1,454 153 2,697 767 5,071 1,188 12 1,200 173 14,250 14,423 
			 South Wales 5,991 493 16,221 2,923 25,628 6,362 30 6,392 865 18,968 19,833 
			 
			  2007-08
			 Dyfed-Powys 472 133 1,350 138 2,093 747 4 751 103 5,853 5,956 
			 Gwent 1,924 170 4,317 649 7,060 2,380 14 2,394 369 9,829 10,198 
			 North Wales 998 136 2,150 380 3,664 1,150 25 1,175 153 10,955 11,108 
			 South Wales 5,411 400 14,226 2,037 22,074 6,953 25 6,978 917 21,197 22,114 
			  Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Criminal Records Bureau

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessments she has made of the efficiency of the process of completing a Criminal Records Bureau check in the last five years;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for a Criminal Records Bureau check to be completed is;
	(3)  what change there has been in the average waiting time for a Criminal Records Bureau check to be completed was  (a) in the last 12 months and  (b) in the last five years;
	(4)  what percentage of those who apply for Criminal Records Bureau clearance waited for more than  (a) 28 days and  (b) two months over the average time taken to process a check in the last 12 months.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office sets the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) a number of performance targets each year and the efficiency of the process of completing a CRB check is measured within the context of these targets.
	The CRB currently operates to a set of published service standards (PSS) which include to issue 90 per cent. of standard disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of enhanced disclosures within 28 days.
	The following table illustrates the CRB's performance for the last five years against the published service standards (PSS) target.
	
		
			  Published service standards 
			   Standard  Enhanced 
			   Target (percentage)  Actual (percentage)  Target (percentage)  Actual (percentage) 
			 2007-08 90 in 10 days 99.7 90 in 28 days 93.6 
			 2006-07 90 in 10 days 98.8 90 in 28 days 84.9 
			 2005-06 93 in 14 days 99.6 90 in 28 days 84.4 
			 2004-05 93 in 14 days 97.6 90 in 28 days 89.9 
			 2003-04 93 in 14 days 93 90 in 28 days 92.5 
		
	
	Data concerning the average time taken to complete a disclosure are not a performance target and are not collated by the CRB.
	Average figures do not give an accurate indication of performance, since the times taken to complete checks may be affected by a number of factors, including but not restricted to the length of time it can take for an employer to deal with the initial application; the accurate completion of the application form; the clarity of the information provided; the existence of conviction or non-conviction information and the operational effectiveness of the Disclosure Units of the police forces involved in the enhanced disclosure process.

Drinking Banning Orders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to introduce drinking banning orders.

Alan Campbell: The Government intend to commence the legislation relating to Drinking Banning Orders (DBOs) on application. Officials will shortly begin this process by consulting the judiciary on the draft guidance for this power, and we expect that DBOs would become available to frontline practitioners from summer 2009.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) successful prosecutions,  (b) cautions and  (c) issues of fixed penalty notices there were for use of a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 18 December 2008
	Available information provided by the Ministry of Justice for the number of findings of guilt, at all courts, for offences of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, for 2006 and 2007, are given in the following table.
	Data on court proceedings for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	Additionally, there were 6,651 fixed penalty notices issued for the offence in 2006. Data on FPNs issued in 2007 are due to be published in early 2009.
	
		
			  Total number of findings of guilt at all courts for offences of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, England and Wales, 2006 and 2007( 1, 2) 
			   Number 
			 2006 267,673 
			 2007 232,811 
			 (1) It is known that for some police force areas the reporting of court proceedings, in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit - Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Human Trafficking

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protocol is used by the police for dealing with people who are identified as having been trafficked.

Alan Campbell: We have in place existing collaborative ways of identifying, referring and supporting victims whereby the police can seek advice from the specialist United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre in the identification of victims. Forces are also advised as to the appropriate support services available for those who are identified as victims.
	On 17 December 2008 we ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. By April 2009 at the latest we will introduce a reflection period of 45 days and a renewable one year residence permit for identified victims of human trafficking. Additionally, we are introducing formal identification measures under a National Referral Mechanism by which victims are systematically identified by a Competent Authority and referred to appropriate support.

Human Trafficking

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has commissioned on the links between migration and human trafficking.

Alan Campbell: The links between migration and human trafficking form a central part of the work undertaken by the Serious Organised Crime Agency as part of its work to produce the annual UK Threat Assessment. This work is underpinned through two SOCA programmes of activity that focus on organised immigration crime.
	Within this framework SOCA works closely with both international and domestic partners including the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

Human Trafficking: Moldova

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to improve co-operation between the UK and Moldova to prevent trafficking of human beings.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 16 December 200 8
	 I shall be meeting the Moldovan ambassador to discuss issues around organised immigration crime including human trafficking.

Human Trafficking: Victims

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will hold discussions with her counterparts in other EU member states to seek to establish systems to provide safety, support and advice for trafficking victims discovered in the UK and returned to other EU member states.

Alan Campbell: We are in regular dialogue with international partners and we have played an active role in the G6 initiative to assist in enhancing international co-operation, increase knowledge of human trafficking and develop victim care capabilities.
	This work has built on the EU plan on best practices, standards and procedures for combating and preventing trafficking in human beings (EU action plan on trafficking) which was introduced under our presidency of the European Union and will be further taken forward under the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings which we ratified on 17 December 2008.

Metropolitan Police Estates Strategy

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Metropolitan Police Estates Strategy will be published.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Police National Computer: Standards

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the replication rate is of records on the Police National Computer and the National DNA Database, broken down by records relating to people aged  (a) under 10 years,  (b) 10 to 17 years and  (c) 18 years and older; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Approximately 13.3 per cent. of records on the National DNA Database are estimated to be duplicates or replicates. It is not possible to break this figure down by age.
	On 16 December 2008, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, announced that the Government would take immediate steps to remove the DNA profiles of children aged under 10 from the NDNAD.
	The replication rate of records on the Police National Computer is not known. When a replicate record is discovered, the records are combined to make a single definitive record.

Police Stations: Closures

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police stations in London are earmarked for closure as part of the draft Metropolitan Police Estates Strategy; in which year it is proposed that they be closed; what estimate has been made of the capital receipts that will be obtained from their closure; what new police stations are proposed as part of the draft strategy; and in which year it is proposed that they be opened.

Vernon Coaker: The management of the Metropolitan police estate and allocation of resources are matters for the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Firearms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police firearms from each police force have been lost or stolen in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Police: Urban Areas

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on policing urban areas on Friday and Saturday nights in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the police authority and chief constable for each force concerned to determine in the light of operational priorities.

Police: Weapons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which weapons are available for use by police forces; and how many of each type are available to each force.

Vernon Coaker: Weapons deployed by forces are an operational matter for chief officers. The Home Office Scientific Development Branch maintains a database, on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), of firearms and ammunition used by authorised firearms officers in the 43 forces in England and Wales. The Attenuated Energy projectile is also available for use by police forces, and Tasers are available for use by authorised firearms officers and specially trained units in line with ACPO Policy and Guidance. Forces also deploy incapacitant sprayboth CS and PAVA basedand batons.

Proceeds of Crime

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the information on the performance of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA's) asset recovery functions she plans to publish will include assets recovered by another agency principally as a result of SOCA activity or information supplied by SOCA.

Alan Campbell: In addition to publishing information on its own asset recovery operations the Serious Organised Crime Agency will report on international assets denied. This figure will reflect the wider impact of SOCA's activity and relates to assets which overseas authorities have frozen, seized or confiscated from criminals as a result of SOCA intelligence or activity.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Assets Recovery Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Assets Recovery Agency had under investigation with a view to civil recovery or taxation action in which no action to restrain assets had yet been taken as at 31 March 2008; what the estimated value of the assets under investigation in those cases was; how many of those investigations were subsequently terminated by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency without court action; what the reasons for the termination were in those cases; what the estimated value of assets in terminated cases was; and in respect of such terminated cases, what steps have been taken to remove relevant assets from criminals.

Alan Campbell: Data relating to the transfer of cases from the Assets Recovery Agency to the Serious Organised Crime Agency were not collated to this level of detail, as there would be no operational value and some cost in doing so. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost (through manual collation from case files). SOCA has terminated 10 cases since the merger, in which no Property Freezing Order/Interim Receiving Order or Recovery Order had been granted as at 31 March 2008. The reasons for terminating these cases were:
	no assets to recover (1)
	insufficient evidence to link assets to criminality (5)
	further evidence of criminality foundcase referred for criminal investigation (3)
	case erroneously referredcriminal case still under appeal (1).
	In these cases either there were no assets to recover, or insufficient evidence, or an ongoing criminal investigation which rendered any assets outside the scope of the civil recovery powers.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Assets Recovery Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Assets Recovery Agency transferred to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 31 March 2008 in which proceedings for civil recovery on taxation investigation had been initiated; what the estimated value of assets restrained in those cases was; how many of those cases were terminated by SOCA without asset recovery; what the reasons were for termination in each such case; what the estimated value of assets in cases so terminated was; how many such inherited cases not terminated have been completed by obtaining a civil recovery order or consentor; in how many such cases  (a) a tax settlement been agreed and  (b) a judgment from Special Commissioners has been obtained; what the value of such orders and settlements is; and what the value of assets restrained in such cases is.

Alan Campbell: Data relating to the transfer of cases from the Assets Recovery Agency to the Serious Organised Crime Agency were not collated to this level of detail, as there would be no operational value and some cost in doing so. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost (through manual collation from case files). SOCA has terminated one case without recovering assets, where civil recovery proceedings had been initiated as at 31 March 2008. The reason for terminating the case was that there were no assets left to recover. As regards the value of civil recovery orders and tax settlements, figures for SOCA's UK-wide performance on asset recovery for the financial year 2008-09 are subject to internal validation and will be included in its Annual Report for 2008-09, when published.

Terrorism: Internet

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government takes to prevent gambling internet sites being used by terrorist organisations to raise funds.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 January 2009
	The Government are determined to do all they can to prevent funds from reaching terrorists. Operators located in Great Britain who wish to offer gambling through internet websites must apply for a Remote Operating Licence from the Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission undertakes a strict examination of an operator's suitability before determining their application.
	Furthermore, operators licensed by the Gambling Commission who offer casino games through websites form part of the regulated sector covered by the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. These regulations implement the terms of the Third EU Directive on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, and include a duty to verify the identity of customers. A breach could constitute a criminal offence.
	The Gambling Commission is the supervisory authority for casinos and operators must act in accordance with the Gambling Commission's guidance on anti-money laundering, The Prevention of Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of TerrorismGuidance for remote and non-remote casinos'. This guidance is available at:
	http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Client/media detail.asp?mediaid=326
	and a copy will be placed in the House Library. The operators of all gambling websites should ensure their staff are made aware of their duties under the Terrorism Act 2000 for the reporting of suspicious activity relating to terrorist finance offences.

UK Border Agency: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the UK Border Agency to reply to the letter of 9 December 2008 from the hon. Member for Walsall North, reference P1120638 and CTS of M 20970/8.

Phil Woolas: The regional director for the north-west, Gill Mortlock, wrote to my hon. Friend on 13 January 2009.